A 30-year-old house helper Boitumelo Nchimako accused of cruelly assaulting a one-year-old minor has pleaded guilty to one count while denying the other.
Appearing before Broadhurst Magistrate Court today, Nchimako was slapped with an additional charge on her initial charge of cruel punishment contrary to section 61 of the Children’s Acts of the Laws of Botswana. In the new charge, Nchimako stands accused of assaulting the minor around December 2025 still at Oodi who later collapsed and sustained injuries. Following arraignment, Magistrate Nthabiseng Merafe-Olaotse asked Nchimako to plead to charges against her. In response, Nchimako pleaded guilty to only one charge, denying the other one. “I am not guilty in the first count (December offence) and I find myself guilty in the second count (January offence),” she noted. With a plea of guilty and not guilty recorded, Magistrate asked the State to expedite the matter so that it can proceed after setting a status hearing in three weeks time. “The matter is set for March,9 for bail ruling and remand for the accused is extended. I expect you (the State) to be able to continue with Case Management Conference (CMC),” ordered the Magistrate. The case continues.
