�Death row� inmate appeals

Mpho Mokwape | Monday July 6, 2015 12:06

 

It will be the second time that the 55-year-old Gabaakanye attempts to convince the Higher Court judges to overturn his journey to reuniting with his Maker, following another attempt in his last court appearance when the case was postponed to the July session.

Gabaakanye’s lawyer had indicated that he was unaware that his client’s case was coming up, and had not prepared to argue on his behalf. In July 2014, the High Court sentenced the old man to death for the murder of a visually impaired septuagenarian at Ga-Mosusu Lands.

Gabaakanye was also jailed for five years for unlawfully wounding the wife of the then 74-year-old deceased man.

Gabaakanye, who has a string of convictions dating as far back as 1986, was accused of attacking the couple in 2010 and stealing a radio and a cellphone, among other items. He pleaded not guilty to both charges of murder and unlawful wounding.

Justice Singh Walia of the Gaborone High Court found him guilty, with no extenuating circumstances.

During the sentencing, Walia pointed out that the defence did little to argue the case as the accused already had many convictions.He said Gabaakanye had been a nuisance to the public and deserved no mercy.

“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,” he said.