The accused were on trial on Thursday before Magistrate Keneilwe Koobake in a case that was prosecuted by Sub-Inspector Buti Matema of Rakops Police station. State alleges that on March 7, 2015, the accused, acting jointly and in consent, unlawfully killed a preserved game, gemsbok, at Matswere Wildlife Park in the Central Kgalagadi Game Reserve (CKGR) contrary to section 19 (1) of Wildlife and National Parks Act. At the initial stage of trial, the accused were in a good mood in such a way that everyone who was in the public gallery thought that when time comes they would grill the prosecution witnesses with questions.
After the state witnesses led their evidence in chief, both the accused were given opportunity to cross examine them. To the court’s surprise the suspected poachers developed cold feet; they completely failed to fire the witnesses with questions as expected. The suspects were absolutely lost/confused, they didn’t understand or have knowledge of the court proceedings. Instead of using questions to challenge the evidence of the state witnesses to show that they did not agree with what they said, they were simply making statements that constitute their defence.
