AoJ considers taking courts to the people

The attorney, Charles Tlagae, was representing Teko Bareki, 44, who without malice aforethought killed his uncle, Letang Mbunyane, 64, during a traditional beverage drinking spree at Jamataka village in the Central Administrative District of Botswana on May 27 in 2005. After Tlagae finished his submissions on plea in mitigation, he out of curiosity asked Justice Barnabas Nyamadzabo what the courts in the country were doing to make sure that the positive messages that are contained in the judgements that the courts churn out week in and week out reach their intended audience especially the communities where serious offences such as murder and manslaughter had occurred.

Outlining his reasons for having asked Nyamadzabo the question, Tlagae said it is commonplace that the courts always pass stiffer sentences that they say will act as deterrents to would-be offenders. Tlagae stated that on the contrary, serious offences continue to increase in Botswana.