Father testifies against son in murder trial
Mpho Mokwape | Wednesday October 19, 2016 17:40
Nkadiletsa Sebego, father to the 22-year-old accused Gorata Sebego told court yesterday that he was taken back because he never thought that his son could be involved in such gruesome acts.
The 70-year-old pensioner in his chief evidence said he was even more disappointed when he learnt of the violent nature of the attack. “I was disappointed that he could be involved in such acts as I was told that there was a robbery in Gaborone North and that the people attacked were in hospital. What was even disappointing was that after some time we heard that the attack took someone’s life,” he said.
During his sworn evidence led by state prosecutor Farayi Mahwite, Sebego said money amounting to P12,200 and a laptop were recovered from his son.
He said the laptop was recovered before the separate amounts of P8, 200 and P4, 000 were recovered in the presence of the police.
“The security officers came with the police and told us that my son said there was money in the house to which he led the police,” said the old man. Sebego also admitted to Mahwite that prior to the incident, his son had no laptop and that he was unemployed.
Following his admission that his son was never assaulted in his presence, during cross examination from the defence team, Sebego however, said his son showed signs of fear and acted like someone who was in pain.
“I cannot really say he was assaulted because it never happened in my presence.However when he came back with the officers to recover the money he acted like someone in pain. Maybe it was the handcuffs,” he said.
The accused - Lebang Ntesi (30), Phemelo Tshelang (25), Gorata (22), Patrick Gaile (42) and Mpho Mangwa (28) who are all residents of Oodi, are facing one count of murder and one count of armed robbery. They pleaded not guilty to both charges.
They are accused of murdering security officer, Olebogeng Ramapulane on the night of August 28, 2013 at a farm in Gaborone North.
On the count of armed robbery, they are alleged to have used violence against Chinese citizen, Liu Jian Hui before getting away with cash amounting to P20, 000 and items including a computer, laptop, blazer and a cellphone. They allegedly beat Hui to a pulp resulting in him being admitted at Princess Marina Hospital’s intensive care unit.
State is expected to call more witnesses as the case continues before Chief Justice, Maruping Dibotelo.