Soldier's murder accused remanded

Tebogo Kgalemang
Correspondent | Monday November 8, 2010 00:00

The three men appeared for committal to the High Court last week.

'The suspects will be remanded in custody until completion of this case or until granted bail by the High Court,' Magistrate Molalu said.

Thatayaone Malebjwe, Khumbulani Matapa and Bashangani Boapetswe are accused of the murder of Tshokolo Plots.

All three have been on bail but have often been punished by having it revoked when they transgressed its conditions.

One of the accused, Matapa, had his bail revoked in May, but he reapplied before Francistown High Court Judge Modiri Letsididi.

When he was initially granted bail, one of the conditions was that he would not come to Francistown unless authorised by the investigating officer.

However, he broke this condition and was arrested at Monarch location in Francistown.

In his bail reapplication, Matapa said even though he had disobeyed bail conditions, he had not interfered with witnesses and that he had come to Francistown to confirm his mention dates. He succeeded.

The three accused will have to try their luck again at bail at the High Court as they are now all remanded.

The three men were seen by two witnesses when they allegedly murdered Tshokolo Plots.

The witnesses will tell the court how the three men had run away when the witnesses approached.

The deceased was found with stab wounds in the chest and on a shoulder and was certified dead on arrival at the hospital.