Runaway Soldier Arrested

GALE NGAKANE
Correspondent | Monday January 11, 2010 00:00

 

He was charged with the attempted murder of Nametsegang Stewart and her mother, Cecilia Mphathiwa last Tuesday.

Tonota police station said that Batsile Kesupile, 35, a lance corporal based at Area S BDF camp, was brought in by his parents.

'He went to his parents who turned him in,' said Station Commander Reuben Mphoen when asked for an update by Monitor.

Labelled 'dangerous and armed', and apparently using the tactics he had mastered as a soldier, by Friday morning it would have been the third day the police, with a reinforcement from the BDF, had not been able to apprehend Kesupile, though they occasionally spotted him.

Inside the courtroom where he was brought in an unmarked police van, short-haired Kesupile, who appeared relaxed, was asked whether he would require an attorney and he responded in the affirmative.

State counsel Nancy Obonye moved that the accused be remanded in custody for his own security as emotions were still running high among the women's relatives and the community at large.

'Also, investigations are still ongoing as this is a fresh matter. You have to take into account that the victims are still critically sick in hospital,' said Obonye.

Kesupile, who hails from Tonota, is to appear again for mention before Gabanagae on January 22.

When called for an update on the matter earlier, Mphoen said they were still looking for Kesupile.

'Please check me again around 10am. I will be in a position to update you on the development,' he had said. He later confirmed that Kesupile was in police custody after being brought to the station by his parents.

'He went to his parents and they are the ones who brought him here,' said Mphoen, who added that the suspect led them to a home near his parents' neighbourhood where he had buried the gun he allegedly used to shoot the victims.

By Friday, details were still sketchy on what led to the shooting and allegations that the younger woman was his girlfriend and mother of his four children.

The other woman was the mother of the girlfriend.

'The young woman was actually playing truant and whenever Kesupile appealed to the mother, she did not take him seriously. Eventually, he snapped,' a neighbour said.