Court denies alleged murder-rapist bail

Pini Bothoko | Friday September 29, 2017 10:51

 

On Thursday Matendele appeared before Broadhurst Magistrate Gaseitsewe Tonoki, who denied him bail on grounds that the woman who survived his attack was discharged from hospital after spending several months in Intensive Care Unit.

Matendele is facing a single charge of murder and unlawful wounding he committed on the night of May 2, 2017 near Engine filling station in Mogoditshane.

The accused said that since the victim has been discharged from hospital he should be granted bail to which Tonoki said does not mean the victim has fully recovered from the injuries she sustained.

“It is too early for you to say that since the second victim has been released from hospital you can be granted bail.  There might be medical examinations that she should undergo in order to be certified fit.  It will be premature for you to say that since she has recently been released from the hospital she has fully recovered therefore this court cannot grant you bail,” Tonoki said.

Still, Matendele insisted that the court should review the conditions that were raised to deny him bail, promising that if bail be granted, he would not interfere with police investigations or contact the surviving victim.

“This court once denied me bail on the grounds that the second victim was still fighting for her life at the hospital, but I have learnt that she was released last week hence I am pleading with the court to grant me bail,” Matendele told court.

The state alleges that on that fateful night, Matendele was seen drinking alcohol with the deceased and the second victim at a certain bar in Mogoditshane and the three left the bar together.

Matendele is due for another mention on October 12, 2017.