Prosecutor Mandla Simon clutched at straws when he was asked to prove why Boitumelo Mompe, Gasefete Ntsholetsang and Patrick Batlwaetse from Tonota should not be freed. The three had appeared before the Senior Magistrate Thebeetsile Mulalu for a ruling in the case in which they were accused of stealing a bull at Bodibeng cattle post, near Shashemooke village on September 30, 2010. At the conclusion of the case, it had been proven beyond reasonable doubt that the bull actually belonged to Mompe.
Appearing for the state, Simon - whose witnesses failed to corroborate each other's evidence, called two witnesses who were in a joint syndicate with Mompe but the duo's evidence was at cross-purposes. Explaining the circumstances that led to the suspected crime, Mulalu said that Mompe said he bought a khunwana (reddish-brown colour) cow with a khunwana calf and a thaba (black with white spots) calf from Ernest Moyonda. The first witness said Mompe had bought a khunwana cow with a khunwana calf only, while the second witness said he bought a khunwana cow with a khunwana calf and a thaba calf.
