Justice Zibani Makhwade noted this when he convicted and sentenced 47-year-old Garekgone Ramoroko of Dikaleng cattle post to 10 years imprisonment, for the murder of his common law wife, Gotshabamang Sekopa, whom she stabbed and killed in 2009 following a drinking spree.
Justice Makhwade said though excessive alcohol consumption could be an extenuating circumstance in a murder case, it is not acceptable for people to drink and then commit crimes. Ramoroko previously told court that he was intoxicated on the night he killed his wife and thus did not know what could have led him to stab her. He also said he stabbed his wife in self-defense, an excuse Justice Makhwade did not believe."I once asked why you had to defend yourself against your wife, but never received a response. I do not see why people should just drink and then commit offences. But for now the Court of Appeal says that it should be that way and until they say otherwise, that is how it will be," said Makhwade. She added that she would not accept self defence in Ramoroko's case because his reaction and the weapon he used was disproportionate with provocation. "I reject the evidence that suggests that the deceased had provoked his retaliation," he said.Makhwade said that if the accused was reacting to provocation he could have at least assaulted the deceased not stabbed her with a knife.
