Suspected soldier killers� fail latest bail bid
Tumelo Mouwane | Tuesday May 12, 2015 15:51
The six, Aubrey Gobonwang (24), Mosimanegape Khumalo (22), Botlhe Seadimo (22), Ithuteng Lucas (18), Boitshoko Boitshoko (18) and Ontiretse Sethole (21) were recently denied bail after magistrate, Babedi Mothuba said the charges were so serious as to induce abscondment.
The six are facing a single count of murder and two counts of robbery. Yesterday, magistrate Gennai Jansen dismissed the suspects’ request to review Mothuba’s bail ruling. She said she was not in a position to make any opinion on the bail ruling as the law did not allow her.
“You are facing a serious charge of murder. No magistrate has the jurisdiction to try murder and I have no jurisdiction to make an opinion on another magistrate’s ruling.
“The state will offer you attorneys at the state’s cost. You have already applied for bail and it was denied, “she said.
The suspects had requested the court to review Mothuba’s bail ruling saying they needed time to find themselves attorneys. The first accused said his belongings were being held by the police, which made it impossible for him to find an attorney.
“My cellphone, bank cards and legal aid card were all confiscated during the arrest. I need them because they have the money that I can use to find an attorney. I therefore request that the court release an order for them to be availed,” he said. The third accused said he also needed to find an attorney as the case was “scary”.
“The case is scary; I need to find an attorney. I therefore plead with the court to review our bail application so that I can find myself an attorney. Our case has been already handed by three magistrates and we need to know who exactly is ours,” he said.
The fourth accused also pleaded with the court to review his bail application. “I pray the court to review my bail application so that I will be able to talk to my parents and make an arrangement to find an attorney,” he said.
Jansen reminded the six of their right to appeal the bail ruling at the High Court.
Meanwhile, state prosecutor, Sub Inspector Tsogo Rantopa said the post mortem report from the incident has been availed and is pending submission at the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).
“The investigating officer says he has received a post mortem report. We are currently typing the statements so that we can pass the file to the DPP for assessment,” Rantopa said.
The six will appear again on May 25.