Old man�s killer appeals today
Mpho Mokwape | Wednesday April 8, 2015 13:35
The 55-year-old serial offender was sentenced to death last year for the murder of the visually impaired septuagenarian at Ga-Mosusu Lands and five years for attacking and unlawfully wounding the old man’s 74-year-old wife.
Gabaakanye, who has a string of convictions for rape, theft, murder and attempted murder dating as far back as 1986, was accused of attacking the couple in 2010 and stealing a radio and a cellphone, among other items.
Before Justice Singh Walia of the Gaborone High Court, he denied the charges of murder and unlawful wounding. But the judge found him guilty and said his serious previous convictions did not help his defence and that he did little to argue the case as he had already had so many convictions.
He said Gabaakanye deserved no mercy, as he has been a nuisance to the public. “This is a serious offence and it is also compounded by the fact that you have previous offences and convictions, more than 12 of all which are serious,” Walia said.