Fresh judgment day for Masilo
Mpho Mokwape | Wednesday January 7, 2015 14:36
Following a prominent trial in which graphic allegations were made against Masilo, all eyes will be on whether Chief Magistrate, Linah Oahile-Mokibe will finally pronounce her verdict after two postponements. After a postponement from December 24, judgment was expected yesterday but this never came to pass.
Masilo pleaded not guilty and denies charges of violently raping and robbing a young woman in Phase 4 in Gaborone West on August 9, 2012.
He is alleged to have robbed and stolen property including Samsung Nokia cellphones and causing grievous bodily harm to his victim.
During a dramatic day of testimony last year, the alleged victim’s brother described arriving home to a find a bloody Masilo emerging from a bedroom in which he had left his victim for dead in a grisly scene.
The final curtain on the trial fell on October 13 with Masilo’s defence cross-examining the last witness, the investigating officer.
The state, represented by Kutlo Tsekane called four witnesses including the complainant in the matter, the brother, a medical doctor who examined the victim and the investigating officer. Defence attorney, Kgosietsile Ngakaagae had only one witness - the accused.
Masilo testified in his own defence and denied ever raping or robbing the woman. Final submissions were made on November 25.
Meanwhile, besides today’s judgment, Masilo has other cases hanging over his head including robbery, indecent assault and murder. He is alleged to have robbed a woman of a Nokia X2 cellphone valued at P800 and inserted his middle fingers into her vagina. The state alleges that Masilo used violence to obtain the property he stole from his victim.
He is also alleged to have abused women between November 9 and 16 2012 in Kgale and Phase 4.
In that period, he is alleged to have sexually abused and robbed three women and brutally murdered a former St Joseph’s College student in Phase 4.
In the last crime, pictures of Masilo’s alleged bloody capture in the roof of the victim’s house went viral on social media. He was committed to the High Court in 2013 to stand trial for murder.