After waiting for months for a new 'objective' magistrate to take over their threat-to-kill case, Bakwena royals got their wish yesterday. However, the royals stunned the state when they asked the new magistrate, Oahile Mokibe from Mochudi to recuse herself. First Kgosimotse Sebele and then his nephew Kabo asked the magistrate to withdraw from the case because she had presented to them a picture that told them that she would not be objective. Kgosimotse appeared not to hear the announcement by the magistrate to the effect that he was a free man after the state withdrew charges against him and senior citizen Motlhabatsatsi Nkonyana. When given the chance to speak, he asked the magistrate to recuse herself. Here are excerpts from the case;
Mpho Letswalo (the prosecutor): The previous magistrate informed the court that the ruling regarding the accused persons application for variation of bail conditions] would be made on June 28, which was last Monday. On that same day, I intimated to the honourable court that the ruling may not be necessary for the second and third accused after we had opportunity to peruse the record and interview witnesses. The state withdraws the charges in terms of Section 150 subsection 4 against Kgosimotse Sebele and Motlhabatsatsi Nkonyana.
