The judge said he found no extenuating circumstances in the case of 31-year-old Shakuhungira Loeto Baitsholedi who was mature at the time of the offence. The convict was charged with the murder of Keamogetse Thapiso with one Gaolelekwe Kawire who was however discharged before the trial concluded. Thapiso was found dead by his live-in lover Meleko Chapi on April 24, 2004 in the compound of his employer Josephine Burns.
It is strongly believed that he died from shock and haemorrhage after he was shot with a gun. Forensic pathologist, Dr Varapraisad Patnaik testified that the deceased was shot at close range. The bullet was from a gun owned by a prosecution witness Botsholelwang Sarega. Baitsholedi borrowed the gun saying that he needed protection because he was going to look for his lost donkeys in an area infested by dangerous wild animals. Instead of returning the gun the same day as agreed, he went to a funeral in Shakawe in the evening with the weapon. Later the gun was found by Serega's wife in a granary used to store sorghum with two bullets missing. Sarega testified that he met Baitsholedi and asked him about the bullets but he did not respond. Sarega was arrested a day after attending the funeral of Thapiso.
