Murder accused denies poisoning friend
Innocent Selatlhwa | Friday March 31, 2017 16:27
Makhwa was called to the to the witness box to state the events leading to the death of his friend Kagiso Itheeng.
“Itheeng came to my house in the morning shaking telling me that he was not feeling well and wanted beer to relieve the hangover from the previous night. I told him I hadn’t bathed and would pick him up at Bodiba depot so he can help me buy stock for my bar. I picked him up around 9am before we went to collect crates from the bar and went to buy stock,” Makhwa said.
Makhwa said he gave Itheeng a 440ml Black Label beer before they departed to Sefalana for the stock. He said after they finished packing stock in the bar Itheeng asked for another beer, which he gave to him before asking him to load two empty bottles into the car as they prepared to go back to Sefalana.
It is not clear whether or not the drinks were sealed. He said he was surprised to find Itheeng waiting in the car but sweating and shivering. “I then took him to the hospital whereupon a doctor said he was showing symptoms of alcohol withdrawal. I then went to his family home and there was nobody home,” he said.
Makhwa’s lawyer, Gabaikanngwe Kebalepile pleaded for Makhwa to be granted bail saying he was innocent and that the case was motivated by jealousy.
“A politician and an employee of the Directorate of Intelligence and Security (DIS) are the ones who reported the matter to the police on hearsay that was going on around the village,” he said. He said his client should be freed as he has never been searched or questioned by the police following his arrest a fortnight ago.
Kebalepile also said the reason provide by the police to have his client behind bars was unfair.
“In denying him bail, the prosecution stated that it was because they feared he could be attacked, but if that is the case, he can move to a different location,” he said.
Makhwa told the court that he needed bail to be able to run his business and other family affairs. He stated that shall the need arise, he will move from Thamaga to any place in Botswana as he has relatives all over the country.
The court had been told that a group of people tried to destroy his house the night Itheeng died, but he brushed the attack aside.
Makhwa was further remanded in custody until next week.