Double murder accused pleads guilty

Pini Bothoko | Friday October 6, 2017 12:33

 

The 32-year-old Phadisa appeared before Broadhurst Magistrate, Gaseitsewe Tonoki on two counts of murder.

Court revealed that on Independence Day Phadisa murdered Bembe Magosi and Gomolemo Motladile at Phiring location in Broadhurst, Gaborone.

Given an opportunity to respond to prosecutors’ conditions that pleaded with the Court not to grant him bail, Phadisa surprised the Court by pleading guilty to the offence. Phadisa briefly responded: “I plead guilty your Worship”.

Magistrate Tonoki interrupted him advising him not to take a plea because Court has not yet given him that opportunity.

“We are not yet at that stage, you will be given chance to take a plea but not today. I want you to comment on the prosecution’s conditions they just presented pleading with Court to deny you bail.

The state prosecution has just denied you bail, what can you say,” Tonoki said.

“I have nothing to say your Worship,” Phadisa said in a low voice. Representing state prosecution, Onkemetse Modukanele had earlier pleaded with court not to grant Phadisa bail as the matter is still fresh and that investigations into the matter are still at initial stage.

She said that the accused person has committed a serious offence of double murder, which is still fresh on the minds of Phiring residents as well as to the deceased’s family members who are likely to pose danger to the accused person if granted bail.

Modukanele went on to inform the Court that postmortem of both deceased has not yet been conducted.

“The investigating officer in this case has not recovered the weapon that was used to kill the victims and he is yet to do so with the help of the accused person. I am therefore pleading with the Court not to grant him bail as he can interfere with the investigations that are still at initial stage,” Modukanele said.

It is alleged that the incident occurred at the victim’s yard in Phiring and the deceased together with the suspect all originate from Lerala village.

The cause of the accused’s horrible actions are not yet known but the police had earlier informed Mmegi that Phadisa and Motladile were in a love relationship.

Phadisa is due in court on October 18 for another mention.