In April this year, Motlatsi Khoto, 48, was convicted of murdering nine-year-old Metlha Sibanda in 2018 in Marobela. Previously, Justice Bengbame Sechele stated that although the forensic scientist who examined Metlha’s body concluded that a DNA profile obtained from the anorectal swabs relating to Khoto could not be excluded as a possible contributor to the mixed DNA profile found on the deceased, there was a possibility that it may be Khoto’s DNA.
Therefore, the judge said that the finding was ambiguous because it means the DNA found on Metlha could belong to another person and not necessarily Khoto. In addition, Khoto’s attorney Kgosietsile Ngakaagae has in the past during trial submitted that Khoto involuntarily murdered Metlha in the middle of a nightmare. In the nightmare, Khoto had relayed he was in a fight with another person and as a result throttled Metlha in his sleep. He said he only realised the fact after waking from the nightmare. When making submissions on extenuation on Wednesday, attorney Ngakaagae said that their address on extenuation will only cover a single point.
