Outing turns bad as pal dies in quarrel
Goitsemodimo Akanyang | Friday April 5, 2019 12:57
This came to light Thursday when Lefoko Masudisa, 28, was arraigned in court for the alleged murder of Thembani Mazinyane.
The State alleges that Masudisa murdered Mazinyane on April 2 at Block 2, Francistown.
Masudisa, who’s plea was reserved after his legal rights were explained to him, told the court that he will conduct his own defence after he was arraigned on Thursday. The arraigning officer, sub inspector Cecilia Nchochi pleaded with the court to remand the accused in custody. “Investigations are still at their initial stages. The accused was only arrested yesterday. Also, we are still awaiting post-mortem results from the hospital,” she said.
When given a chance to speak, Masudisa asked the court to give him permission to go to hospital as he had an appointment with the doctor. He also pleaded with the court to grant him bail. Contrary to what Nchochi said, Masudisa claimed he was not arrested on Wednesday but rather on Monday.
When the chief magistrate Faith Dlamini-N’Gandu asked Nchochi how they arrested the accused before the deceased passed on, she said: “The deceased was injured on Saturday and admitted at Nyangabgwe Referral Hospital but he died on Wednesday.”
Nchochi also added that the deceased’s relatives have been notified of his death.
Magistrate Dlamini-N’Gandu then told the accused that he is facing a capital offence, which needs to be investigated thoroughly.
“You were arrested not so long ago,” said Dlamini-N’Gandu. “So the court will not be too quick to grant you bail. The deceased has not been buried yet and his family needs to adjust to his death. Also, I am still awaiting post-mortem report because the doctors are not yet done with it. You will, therefore, be remanded in custody until the prosecution completed their investigations.” The magistrate also ordered the prosecution to take Masudisa for any medical attention while he is in custody should the need arise.
Masudisa will appear in court on April 18.
According to police sources privy to the matter, before the deceased met his fate, he was drinking alcohol with the accused.
It is said that they then had a misunderstanding that ended up in a fight.
The accused then left the bar where they were drinking alcohol for his home to avoid any further confrontation.
Later, the sources added, the deceased followed him to his place. “The deceased then hit the accused with a bottle of a quart on the head. This did not go down well with the accused who retaliated by fighting with the deceased,” said the source.
“He overpowered the deceased but he did not use any weapons during the fight. The deceased later succumbed to his injuries at Nyangabgwe Referral Hospital on Wednesday.”