Twelve Days For Kalafatis Trial

ISAIAH MOREWAGAE
Staff Writer | Monday November 1, 2010 00:00

 

On Friday, prosecution and defence agreed on February 2-11 and March 7-11 for resumption of the trial. The state is expected to call 20 witnesses.

However, only 15 witnesses will give oral evidence, after five witnesses statements were admitted at the High Court on Friday.

Four Botswana Defence Force officers implicated in the case have pleaded not guilty. The BDF corporals, Dzikamani Mothobi, Goitsemang Sechele, Ronny Matako and Boitshoko Maifala entered a plea of not guilty, after the charge sheet was read to them.

The highly publicised case made its debut before Regional Magistrate, Lot Moroka. In the case, Mothobi, Sechele, Matako and Maifala are accused of murdering Kalafatis on May 13, 2009 at or near Moonland Shopping Complex in Gaborone.

Last April, the four men were brought before Moroka, in one of the most anticipated cases to be brought before the magistrate.  If convicted, the men face the death sentence. Initially, they were remanded in custody after committal.

However, they are out on bail pending trial. Justice Newman granted the four men bail on conditions that:

*They provide two sureties of P10,000 each;

* be liable for P10,000 recognisance;  

 * attend court proceedings without fail; and *do not interfere with witnesses or investigations and that they reside at their recorded residences.

The four have been asked to surrender their travel documents to the Extension Two Magistrate's Court and to report to the Central Police Station every Friday.

Assistant director of Prosecutions, Kabo Leinaeng, is handling the case assisted by Ambrose Mubika, while Francistown-based attorney, Phadza Kgalemang of Kgalemang and Associates is the defence counsel.