Man allegedly chops cops' heads
Lebogang Mosikare | Wednesday July 3, 2019 14:25
Olemogile Shimane Ndatha landed in hot soup after he allegedly attempted to murder special constable Tirelo Maroba by chopping him on the head with an axe several times on June 27, 2017 at Lepokole village.
According to the affidavit of the Investigating Officer (IO), Ndatha handcuffed Maroba and then proceeded to chop him with an axe on the head.
The court further heard that Ndatha forcefully seized Maroba’s police handcuffs and thereafter chopped him on the head using an axe several times.
As if that was not enough within a few minutes later, a furious Ndatha then allegedly proceeded to the home of another police officer, sergeant Sipho Sekopa, and attempted to kill him by chopping him with an axe on the head several times.
Just like in the Maroba incident, Ndatha allegedly handcuffed Sekopa and thereafter chopped him on the head using the same axe several times.
The people of Lepokole would surely remember June 27, 2o17 as a day that a bad spell befell their village.
Before attempting to murder the two police officers, the state alleges that Ndatha also assaulted Grace Piet with a stone on the forehead causing her bodily harm.
At this stage, it is not clear if Ndatha was in a love relationship with Piet or not.
After he occasionally caused bodily harm to Piet, Ndatha then allegedly proceeded to unlawfully wound Nametsegang Boitumelo by stabbing him with a knife.
The stabbing left Nametsegang with wounds on his left breast and head.
The motive(s) of why Ndatha unlawfully wounded Boitumelo were not revealed in court but they would become clear during Ndatha’s trial.
Applying for bail, Ndatha told the court that two years have passed since he was arrested and incarcerated in connection with the four charges but he is still languishing in jail.
Ndatha said: “I make an application to be granted bail. If granted bail, I would not misbehave and I would also assist the police in fighting crime. I would also appear in court as and when required to do so. The prosecution says that I would interfere with their witnesses but I would not do that since the witnesses no longer stay in Lepokole. I would confine myself to Lepokole and report to Lepokole police station.”
After Ndatha gave reasons why he should be granted bail, Justice Lot Moroka asked Ndatha what offences led the state to apply for the denial of his liberty.
Ndatha replied: “Two attempted murder cases,” which prompted Moroka to further ask Ndatha if he was working before he allegedly committed the offences.
“I was not working,” Ndatha answered.