Gang denied bail in soldier murder
Tumelo Mouwane | Tuesday April 28, 2015 15:02
The five accused; Aubrey Gobonwang (24), Mosimanegape Khumalo (22), Ithuteng Lucas (18), Boitshoko Boitshoko (18) and Ontiretse Sethole (21) are believed to be members of a gang that has been terrorising Mogoditshane residents.
Yesterday, the magistrate said the six could not be granted bail as they were facing serious charges. “The accused are facing serious offences of murder and two accounts of robbery and the chances that they will abscond are high. The gravity of the offences is also in consideration and it may also influence the accused to abscond as the seriousness of the offences mean serious conviction,” she argued.
The magistrate further said that while a strong case had been formed against the accused, the court had considered both sides of the application in consideration of the bail.
“The accused are students and claim they are breadwinners in their respective families even though I do not have the evidence. This bail application calls for public interest hence making it more sensitive. I have considered the fact that the accused are relatively young. It should also be noted that the prosecution has stated investigations into the matter are still ongoing. It would therefore not be right for me to grant the accused bail,” she said.
When asked if they wished to respond to the ruling, one of the accused, Lucas, pleaded with the court to help him secure his property in Mochudi where he rents accommodation, whilst another, Seadimo, asked the court to consider that he is sick and needs medical help which he does not receive in prison.
“I only get injections at the prison, but I told the authorities there that I needed to go to Princess Marina Hospital to receive better care,” Lucas added.
The six are alleged to have on the night of March 13, 2015 at Nkoyaphiri ward in Mogoditshane, acted jointly and murdered Ontuetse Masaseng. They are further alleged to have robbed Kenneth Tozvireva of a wallet containing the sum of P350.00 and also robbed Batswana Motsumi of a cell phone worth P900.00, and P280.00 cash; offences that they are accused to have violently committed.