Knife-wielding murder accused denied bail again
Tumelo Mouwane | Wednesday January 6, 2016 13:18
Facing his fifth plea for bail, Oteng Kefitlhile, begged for release stating that his property was at the risk of being stolen in Francistown. The accused said he had left his property unsecured since his arrest last year. “I plead for bail since I have left my property unsafe where I was working before I was arrested. I have no idea what state they are in so I need to secure them,” Kefitlhile pleaded.
The substantive magistrate, Thedi referred Kefitlhile to Lobatse Chief Magistrate, Mareledi Dipate where his case was initially arraigned. The substantive prosecutor in the case, Sergeant Pauline Ramaotwana of Woodhall Police Station said the accused person will be availed before medical services for ‘sanity’ check-up on January 21.
“We have since booked January 21st for the accused person to go through sanity check-up and we plead for extension of his remand in custody”, Ramaotwana said. Kefitlhile faces one count of murder and five counts of attempted murder and unlawful wounding.
The state alleges that on September 29, Kefitlhile stabbed to death Lobatse Senior Secondary School (Lobsec), Form Five student, Khumo Kgotlaetsile. The victim died on the spot from several stab wounds. On count two, Kefitlhile, at an unspecified house in Woodhall 2 ward, is alleged to have stabbed Lesedi Molefhe with a knife several times.
Continuing the serial stabbings on the fateful day, Kefitlhile allegedly stabbed Kesentseng Lenyatso. The accused allegedly stabbed Lenyatso on the back with a knife before turning on Ipeleng Moncho, stabbing him five times on the right knee and once on the left knee.
His alleged sixth victim, Fernado Babui had to be hospitalised at Princess Marina Hospital with severe stab wpunds. He was released two weeks after the incident. In another matter heard before the Lobatse Magistrates Court yesterday, a 23-year-old man of Lobatse, Bokamoso Kono who is alleged to have sexually molested an 11-year-old girl, was also further denied bail.
Magistrate Thedi said the accused person was denied bail on several occasions by the Chief Magistrate. ‘’You have on several occasion been denied bail by the Chief Magistrate. He informed you that you are not a candidate for bail and therefore you will be remanded until the matter is finalised,” Thedi said.
The prosecutor in the case, Ramaotwana said the victim is yet to receive social workers assistance and counselling. Ramaotwana further pleaded with the court to impose an order on Woodhall social worker to administer social services on the victim. “The victim has not yet been availed before social worker for assistance due to poor communication between the police and the social worker.
We therefore plead with the court to impose an order on the social worker to provide assistance,” Ramaotwana said.