Doreen Nankonani, 24, was the first witness in a case in which Mompoloki Charles, 33, is said to have beaten his ex-girlfriend Joyce Gabanthate to death on June 26, 2010 in Palapye. She said: "Nna tota ke ne ke itshietse. (I was really drunk) and that is why I do not remember some of the things that happened." Giving her evidence, she broke down and told the court that she is really hurt because she did not know that the deceased person would die. She said she had been drinking the whole day with the deceased, but said that she can remember some of the events leading to the deceased person's death. She told the court that on the night in question, she walked home from Moselewapule Bar with her boyfriend and the deceased. She said when they got home, instead of going to her rented room, they went next door to visit a friend.
Nankonani told the court that as soon as they got there, the accused person burst in and talked to the deceased.
"He just opened the door and asked the deceased where she had been because he had been looking for her. She answered him by asking him why he was looking for her, especially since they were no longer dating," she told the court. She said the accused then proceeded to punch the deceased. He grabbed her by the clothes and hit her against the doorframe and then dragged her outside.
