Murder Accused Granted Bail

GOTHATAONE MOENG
Staff Writer | Monday June 17, 2013 00:00

Tshepiso Zulu and Dizimba Yusef Ogorogile were on Friday released on bail by Justice Singh Walia and asked to pay P7,500 each as part of their bail conditions.Zulu, Ogorogile and two others have appeared for mention in the Molepolole Magistrate's Court on a charge of murder. They are alleged to have, on January 11, 2013, murdered an unnamed Thamaga man. On April 24 this year, police discovered the deceased's dismembered body at the bottom of a 30-metre deep borehole at Mmone cattlepost in the Kweneng district.

The victim's skull, both feet, both hands and neck vertebrae are still missing and unaccounted for.Opposing the bail application, prosecutor Moagi Moloi contended that if released, the two might interfere with investigations, as well as intimidate witnesses.The suspects may hinder investigations and the search for the missing body parts, Moloi argued further.

However, defence lawyer Banyatsi Mmekwa, of Langwane, Mmekwa Attorneys, countered that there was no factual basis for the state's fear that the suspects might interfere with both the investigations and witnesses.'All the state has done is make bare allegations.'The deponent states that the witnesses are known to the accused.In the statements sourced from the witnesses, none of them says the accused knows them,' he said.Mmekwa further argued that since witnesses have already been identified, interviewed and their statements recorded, the question of interference does not arise.

In making his ruling, Justice Walia said although he understood the state's apprehension of interference with investigations, he was not informed of the form the interference is likely to take.In addition to the P7,500, other bail conditions require the suspects to surrender their passports or travel documents; to report to the Molepolole Police Station commander on Mondays and Fridays; to not have any contact with witnesses and to appear for court hearing as and when required.In an interesting twist, the first accused, Zulu, two others and the deceased are suspects in a stock theft matter that is yet to commence in court.

The other two men charged with the murder are Pakino Makgonatsotlhe Dipotso and Samuel Raoshima Mokate.They appeared for bail application before Justice Abednego Tafa at the Lobatse High Court last Thursday.Justice Tafa is expected to deliver a ruling regarding their bail application in two weeks.