Judge "insults" lawyer

In his letter dated January 7, 2013 also copied to the chairperson of the Law Society of Botswana (LSB), Manewe said he appeared before Justices Twum, John Foxcroft and Monametsi Gaongalelwe on January 7, 2013 representing Kabelo Nkgowe in a rape appeal. He said when he was called he stood up and adviced the court that Nkgowe was formally withdrawing his appeal against conviction and was only pursuing the appeal against sentence.

He then proceeded to make arguments in support of the appeal against sentence. "Before the writer could make any progress in articulating his client's position, the court descended on him with a barrage of questions and remarks. The writer then patiently and politely waited for the court to make its point without interfering. Obviously the court was of the view that the appellant's argument was without merit and substance which is normal in courts of law.