MOH shooter served time for lover�s murder
Sharon Mathala | Monday November 2, 2015 18:00
The Investigating Officer (IO) in the matter, detective Sergeant Marapo told a shocked courtroom that after arresting Serumula on Wednesday at the Tlokweng Boarder Post as he was entering the country from South Africa, he decided to make a background check on him.
“The accused once had a case of murder that was reported to the Old Naledi Police Station.
In that matter, he had murdered his then girlfriend by stabbing her more than 20 times,” said Marapo, who further stated that the man was released from prison not so long ago after completion of his sentence.
According to his charge sheet, Serumula, 45 on October 9, 2015 at or near the MoH in the Government Enclave, unlawfully attempted to murder a woman (name known to this publication) by shooting her with a pistol.Serumula who was in court, clad in a T-shirt with the message “An awkward morning is better than a lonely night”, disappeared after the shooting incident.
The police confirmed that he then escaped to neighbouring South Africa through the Pioneer border gate in Lobatse, and was arrested when he attempted to get back into the country at the Tlokweng border gae.
The IO told the full courtroom that the man had told them that he had sold the pistol to someone in Johannesburg whilst he was on the run.
“I questioned him about the gun he used, to which he replied it was a pistol. He said that he sold the pistol to someone in Johannesburg, a statement we do not believe. We plead that he be remanded in custody because his latest victim’s life could be at risk. The victim was released from hospital and is currently still recovering,” said Marapo.The 31-year-old woman from Metsimotlhabe was shot twice through her left breast
The police revealed that the investigations are at the initial stag,e but promised the court that they will present documents that the man was previously charged and convicted of murder. Marapo further stated that the accused person did not deny that he served time for the murder of his then girlfriend, a crime he committed in the late 1990s.
Serumula will appear again in court on November 4 when the presiding Magistrate Ntobizodwa Ncube is expected to deliver her ruling on his bail application.