Suspected mentally ill man insults magistrate

PATRICIA MAGANU
Staff Writer | Friday November 5, 2010 00:00

The suspect, Gaseitsewe Zapa, started shouting insults at the magistrate on his way out of court after he was told that bail was not possible for him until a psychiatrist's report was obtained next month.

Prosecutor Gasemotho Pitlagano told the court that until the doctor's report is obtained, the state would rather have the suspect remanded in custody because of his violent nature.

'The investigation officer in this case has instructed us that the doctor will be able to give the report on the accused person on December 1, so until then we apply that the accused person be remanded because we fear that if he is released he will terrorise the complainant and his other relatives,' he said.

When asked if he understood why he could not be granted bail, the accused, who chose to use the English language though it is fractured, said that the prosecution were lying when they said that he would harm his relatives.

When the magistrate finally told him clearly that he could not be released, he said, 'I do not agree. I am not happy.

This is what I call s**t.  F*&k you, Motherf%4&#@,' and on he went still hurling insults at the court while he was being escorted out.

The magistrate just chuckled.

Zapa said that the prosecution was making up lies, as he would not harm his relatives.

He said that he would like to call the CID to help him out because the prosecution were making up stories.  He further said that he could not wait for the tests. 'You are taking advantage of me,' he said.

Molalu maintained that the court would not give the accused person bail until after it had viewed the doctor's report after December 1.

Information before court is that the accused person is a suspect in a case which he took his relatives' household goods, but the prosecution still has to ascertain if he is mentally unstable as his relatives claim. It is also alleged that he grabbed the property in the presence of their owners using extreme violence. He will come up for mention on November 16.