A magistrate at the Extension II Magistrate Court has granted bail to a teenage girl who is facing charges of unlawful wounding.
The 18-year-old Bame Tshupetso is alleged to have stabbed her boyfriend, who is aged 30, at their place of residence in Maruapula, Gaborone back in May, 25. The victim has since been discharged and recuperating well following attentive care at the Princess Marina Hospital. When she appeared before the court yesterday, the accused who was represented by attorney Mojaki Webster, moved an application for bail before Chief Magistrate Kamogelo Mmesi. The defence attorney reasoned that her client couldn’t be kept further in custody as she is a victim too, in her own way.
“The accused should be released with immediate effect because she is a victim of defilement and has an infant child,” the attorney said. According to Webster, the accused should not languish in custody as she has a young child who deserves her mother’s love and care as her mother (Tshupetso) has been incarcerated for the past month. “She should be released so that she is afforded the chance to be with her infant child who needs her mother,” she said. Further raising grounds for Tshupetso’s bail, Webster stated that at the time of the offence, the accused was supposed to be integrated back into school but due to being held in custody she could not. She pleaded with the court that the accused be granted bail hinting that Tshupetso was defending herself from the victim. “If the court continues to hold her in custody, it will seem like we are punishing a victim of gender-based violence who refused to die and defended herself,” Webster boldly said.
Meanwhile, the State represented by Modisaotsile Seratswe said based on the last court order the accused has not been taken for a psychiatric assessment but instead had gone for counselling. This was interjected by Webster, who said it wasn’t reason enough for the accused to be further remanded in custody. Taking the two perceptions into consideration, Magistrate Mmesi granted the accused bail on conditions that she bind herself with a sum of P1, 000, not interfere with investigations and report herself at a police station once a month. She is set to appear before court on September 4 for a status update. The case continues.
