Trigger-Happy Boyfriend Remains In Custody
Lesedi Mkhutshwa | Monday May 13, 2019 12:25
The State alleges that the 38-year-old accused, Mbakiso Bhusumane attempted to shoot to death with a gun his girlfriend Lorato Mothanka, 30, Gosaitse Sebokolodi, 29, and one-year-old Boikanyo Might Sebokolodi on May 8, 2019 in Block 9, Francistown.
After his legal rights were read to him, Bhusumane told the court that he would seek legal representation. Public prosecutor, sub-inspector Cecilia Nchochi pleaded with the court not to grant Bhusumane bail as investigations in relation to his case are still at an initial stage. The victims for count two and three are critically injured and hospitalised at Nyangabgwe Referral Hospital. The injured parties’ relatives are still deeply hurting over the incident and fear that they might seek revenge on the accused if he is granted bail.
Nchochi went on to say that the accused and the victims stay in the same house and she is worried that if he is granted bail he will accomplish his mission (kill them).
She also said: “We pray for another mention date to avail the investigating officer, to come and update the court about the progress of the investigations and the condition of the victims. We therefore pray that the accused be further remanded in custody”.
Bhusumane pleaded with the court to grant him bail so that he could attend to his health. “I understand that I have committed a serious offence, but I am sick. I have an operation on my leg. I want bail so that I attend to it. If granted bail I will not go to Block 9 (to a house he shares with the victims), I will go to Siviya,” Bhusumane said. Chief magistrate, Faith Dlamini-Ngandu ruled in favour of the State. “You have just been brought before court. The victims are still fighting for their lives at the hospital and if they die you are likely to face murder charges. So you will remain in custody until your next mention date,” Dlamini-Ngandu said.
to information obtained from Kutlwano Police station commander, superintendent Neo Serumola they (police) received a report on Wednesday at around 1am from a 30-year-old woman (Mothanka). Serumola said the woman told them (police) that her boyfriend attempted to kill her with a gun. He said the accused allegedly attempted to shoot Mothanka, who in turn managed to disarm him and threw the gun into a neighbour’s yard. The girlfriend then escaped to file a complaint with the police. He said the suspect then went to the neighbour’s compound, took the gun and returned to his girlfriend’s place.
When he got to his girlfriend’s place, the accused fired shots at different doors in search of her. In one of the rooms he fired at, the accused shot his girlfriend’s cousin on the thigh. He also shot the daughter to her girlfriend’s cousin on the stomach, Serumola said.
Serumola added that after the suspect fired a few more shots he fled to his home village where he was arrested on the same day. He said the suspect apparently borrowed the gun, to kill a cow, which was to be eaten at a wedding. Bhusumane is due in court for mention on May 23, 2019.