Ntwaagae convicted of murder

ISAIAH MOREWAGAE
Staff Writer | Monday March 14, 2011 00:00

 

Ntwaagae will on Thursday mitigate and possibly be sentenced. The conviction means that Ntwaagae's life hangs in the balance. If the court finds that there were no extenuating circumstances, Ntwaagae might be sentenced to death. Bail for Ntwaagae has been extended until Thursday despite opposition from the state.  However, it was ordered that Ntwaagae should report to a police station three times before the matter resumes.

It was ordered that she reports at Gaborone West Police Station on Saturday, Monday and Wednesday. The state alleges that she murdered her boyfriend with an axe after an altercation in 2009. Ntwaagae is a former  waitress at O'Hagans Pub in Game City, Gaborone. On the fateful day, it is alleged that they had a misunderstanding after which she hacked Pule Letota to death with an axe.

During trial Ntwaagae told the court that on the day of the incident, she was choked by her boyfriend using a black scarf that the accused was wearing.

However, the state alleged that Ntwaagae murdered her boyfriend 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's room to gain entry. 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 that of someone being choked, adding that on entering the room he saw the deceased and Ntwaagae lying on the bed.