Threat-to-kill accused pleads not guilty

Tefo Bareki, 33, pleaded not guilty during his arraignment yesterday.  Bareki is accused of threatening to kill Samuel Morake also of Jamataka on July 17, 2011.  He is said to have uttered the following words: "Ntwa ha ena go hela.E ta hela ke sena go go bolaya tsatsi jeno. E tla re le sena go phirima ke tlile go go thaba ka thipa,"(Our fight will not end today before I kill you with a knife), or words to that effect.The prosecution intends to call four witnesses.

The prosecutor told Senior Magistrate Kgololesego Segabo that the case was registered in December 2011 for mention but the accused never showed up in court.  Thereafter, a warrant of arrest was issued against him hence his present remand in jail.  Bareki told the magistrate that the reason for his failure to appear in court as previously ordered by the court is that he went to see a traditional doctor because he was possessed by evil spirits on the day he was supposed to appear in court.