27 Mar 2014

The Village Magistrate Court has been informed that the Director of the Directorate of Public Prosecutions (DPP) is yet to sign committal documents of murder accused, Taku Gandari.

When Gandari appeared for his regular mention on March 26, Magistrate Goodwill Makofi, who had just resumed duty, was informed by a proxy state prosecutor that documents pertaining to Gandari’s case were yet to be signed.

Recently Ms Thato Gower from DPP, who was late last year allocated the case, told the court that assessment on the case had been done and that the prosecution was eagerly awaiting for the director to append his signature on the documents to facilitate it to be committed to the High Court for trial.

The assessment of the case came shortly after police forensic laboratory completed DNA analysis on exhibits, which were found at the murder scene.

It was alleged that Omphile, a Motswana lady, allegedly died at the hands of her husband Taku Gandari last year on March 8, at Maipei ward in Mmopane after an alleged misunderstanding between the couple, who had three children together.

Gandari told Magistrate Makofi that he had nothing to say when asked whether he had something to say.

The Zimbabwean-born Gandari had since been in custody though he had applied for bail. Gandari who is a builder had previously contemplated engaging a legal counsel to speed up his bail, which has not yet materialised. He will appear again on April 9, when the court will be appraised on the status of the case.

On a different matter, one of the accused in the case in which four men are accused of the murder of a cab driver has now rescinded his earlier decision to request bail from Magistrate Makofi who has just taken over his case from the outgoing Magistrate, Ms Alice Rammapudi.
Matshidiso Boikanyo told the court that the High Court has just turned down his bail application because he still has two pending criminal cases.

He was earlier denied bail by the lower court on the account that he was a flight risk and therefore appealed to the high court. In the meantime Boikanyo who has since been on remand told the court that he will patiently deal with the two pending cases before he could launch fresh bail application as he said there would be a change in circumstances.

Matshidiso, who hails from Tlokweng, is charged alongside Tshwanelo Tshimologo of White City in Gaborone, Onthusitse Kgosiethata of Extension 14 in Gaborone and Moabi Seabelo Mabiletsa of Bontleng in Gaborone.

A warrant of arrest has however been issued against Mabiletsa, who has since absconded from reporting himself to the police and coming to court as stipulated in his bail conditions.

Particulars of the offense indicate that the four accused on September 13, 2013 at Block 9 Location in Gaborone murdered Vincent Mopipi who was cab driver. Matshidiso will come for another mention on April 01, while his co-accused will appearon April 24. Ends