Murder Suspect Acted In Self-Defence, Lawyer

Isaiah MorewagaeStaff Writer
and Mpho Tlale
Correspondent | Monday May 31, 2010 00:00

Taimu told the court that on the day of the incident in July 2009, Ntwaagae was choked by her boyfriend Pule Letota using a black scarf that the accused was wearing. The State is alleging that Ntwaagae murdered her boyfriend Letota with an axe after an altercation.  During cross-examination state witness, Baone Shoko, had claimed that on the day in question, she and her boyfriend (Phemelo Bakatweng), who lived in the same compound as Letota, responded to a cry for help from Ntwaagae. They also heard a sound as if someone was being choked. They had to force open the door of the deceased room to gain entry into the room. In his testimony, Bakatweng had also said he forced open the door of the deceased's room after hearing some unusual sound coming from inside. He said the sound he heard was as if someone was being choked, adding that on entering the room he saw the deceased and Ntwaagae lying on the bed.

He further explained that he then realised that one of the two was lying in a pool of blood but initially thought it was Ntwaagae as she had earlier screamed for help saying Letota was killing her. On realising that something bad had happened, he went out to call the deceased's elder brother to come and see what his younger brother had done. However Bakatweng said on taking a closer look they realised that the person lying in the pool of blood was Letota and not Ntwaagae as he had initially thought.

In her testimony Shoko had also mentioned that although she worked with Ntwaagae at O'Hagans she did not have any close ties with her. Shoko also said on that particular day there was another woman in the yard who had fought with Ntwaagae.

The accused had also confided in Shoko that her boyfriend had ordered her to go home. It then emerged from Shoko's testimony that a confrontation then ensued between Ntwaagae and another woman. Shoko told the court that Ntwaagae assaulted the girl whom Shoko could not identify. Shoko told the court that Bakatweng intervened in the fight and Ntwaagae retreated back to Letota's room. However, after a short while, Ntwaagae emerged from the house and attacked the girl again. She added that Bakatweng intervened again and Ntwaagae picked a cellphone from the ground and threw it at the other girl. Shoko told the court that even though she had been visiting Bakatweng in Gaborone West Phase One since December 2008, in the same compound where Letota lived, it was not until June 2009 that she started noticing the accused in the compound.  The case will continue on June 30 and July 7-8, where the state is expected to call more witnesses. Lesedi Seloka represents the State.