Jwaneng Galaxy Goalie Acquitted

Lindiwe Mozola | Monday January 23, 2017 17:23

 

The Palapye Magistrate’s Court ruled that at the time of the alleged offence, both the boy and the girl (17 and 15 years respectively), were minors who lacked direction in the social sphere. Kedidimetse was facing a single charge of defilement that allegedly happened on July 6, 2013 in Lerala.

When passing her judgement, Magistrate Gofaone Mosweu stated that the accused was acquitted on the basis that both the accused and the complainant were young children who lacked parental guidance.

She further stated that she took into account the prosecution evidence by four state witnesses, including the complainant’s evidence who proved that she was in a love relationship with the Jwaneng Galaxy goalkeeper.

Also the birth certificate showed that by the time of the act the complainant was eight months shy of her 16th brthday.

Furthermore, a medical report by the pathologist revealed that the incident, as per the charge, was not the complainant’s first and he could not further establish if indeed the accused and the complainant indeed had sex on that fateful day.

Mosweu also observed that whilst the pathologist could not establish if the incident indeed happened, the accused did not deny having had sex with the complainant.

Moreover, he did not deny that at the time they were both doing Form  3 however according to the accused‘s defence he thought that they were age mate in which at the time of the incident the accused was 17-years-old.

The Magistrate also said that although the accused noted that he thought they were of the same age , such reasoning meant the accused was oblivious to the fact that having a sexual intercourse with a minor is an offence.

In a related matter, a murder accused, Khumoetsile Mantswe, 32, was denied bail by Magistrate Kesego Alstadt after it emerged that he was being investigated for yet another offence of threat to kill.

During his appearance, Mantswe, who is facing a single charge of murder, appealed for bail saying he left behind his children in Selebi Phikwe who need his care.

It is said that on December 30, 2016 at Moremi ward, Lesenepole, he stabbed and killed one Masedi Tshime with a knife.

The state prosecutor, Sergeant Mpho Ntlhabane however revealed that they have a problem with the accused being granted bail due to new allegations of threat to kill.

Ntlhabane further said he had not been able to sit down with the Investigating Officer (IO) to see how far he is with the allegation of murder. He said they were still awaiting postmortem results, affidavit and photo album.

The Magistrate ruled that they will wait to hear from the IO with the progress of both the allegations . Until then the accused‘s remand warrant will be extended until his next appearance on January 31.