Autopsy saves officer from murder charge

Tebogo Kgalemang
Correspondent | Friday July 23, 2010 00:00

Allegations were that the accused Kelatlhile Motlogelwa (32) had hanged Kenanao Lekgetho to death, following misunderstandings over cellphone messages. This allegedly happened when the accused visited the deceased after she knocked off from her job where she worked as a security officer.

Motlogelwa was scheduled to appear for mention on Wednesday but prosecution counsel Careb Mbenda said he had felt compelled to bring up the matter earlier after he received the forensic report.

Mbenda told the court that the report indicated that the deceased had committed suicide by hanging herself and urged the court to grant Motlogelwa bail, since the report did not link him with the offence.

Whereupon the accused broke into tears, saying he had been worried that he would not be given a chance to arrange for his girlfriend's funeral.

'I had earlier asked to be given a chance to arrange for my girlfriend's funeral but was denied,' he said, adding that he was also worried about their child.

The prosecutor said he would be writing to the Director of Public Prosecutions in Gaborone asking for permission to withdraw the matter. If the permission is given, the matter will be withdrawn on August 13.

Motlogelwa had earlier remonstrated his innocence before the court, saying when the deceased knocked off from work, she joined him in bed but he had ignored her.

He had fallen asleep. When he awoke, he was shocked to find Lekgetho hanging from the roof. He alerted the neighbours who immediately called the police.

Meanwhile, Motlogelwa, who is a member of the Special Supporting Group (SSG) in Gaborone, is to answer charges of causing death by dangerous driving in Palapye.