06 Apr 2014

Three men accused of murdering a Zimbabwean born Thembinkosi Dube will appear again for mention on April 24, before Village Magistrate Court.

This was after Village Magistrate Mr Goodwill Makofi was informed by the state prosecutor sub-inspector Galekhutle Mashumba of Sir Seretse Khama Airport Police Station (SSKA) that they were still awaiting police forensic report.

In addition police are still investigating and as such Sub-Inspector Mashumba implored on the court to further extend the accused’s bail until then.

The accused are Tebogo Tatlhego (25) of Ledumadumane, Ontibile Kabelo Ikula (25) who is a soldier at SSKB in Mogoditshane and Keorapetse Babusi (23) of Ledumadumane. The first and the third accused are both unemployed.

The three are accused of murdering Dube on or about January 14 and 15 last year in Mmopane after allegedly assaulting him while taking him to the police station. It is reported that the three were called in by one of the accused’s sister late at night complaining that the deceased, who had employed her in his kiosk, was trying to rape her after turning down his sexual advances.

Last year December, Magistrate Ms Basetsana Keakantse, who previously handled the matter, ordered the trio to present themselves to the SSKA police so that they could be taken for blood extraction at a government clinic to be used in the forensic investigations of the alleged murder.

Magistrate Keakantse made the order after the accused failed to undergo the procedure following the initial order that was made in an earlier court appearance due to communication breakdown between the accused and the police.

She had said the three men should this time around avail themselves before investigating officer at SSKA police on December 17, 2013 at 9am without fail, so that there could be progress on the matter. However Sub-Inspector Mashumba has since confirmed that the accused have complied with the order.

The accused are represented by attorney Friday Leburu, who has retaken up the case after he parted ways with the accused following his successful bail application for them.

In a related matter, the court has further extended a warrant of detention for three of the five men accused of the murder of a night watchman in Gaborone North farms on August 28, 2013. The trio is Lebang Thabo Ntesi, Phemelo Tshelang and Mpho Mangwa.

With regard to Gorata Sebego, who is a student at Bambino College, and Patrick Gaile, they will continue enjoying their bail, which they were granted because they were deemed not a danger to the society as compared to their co-accused. Investigations continue in the matter and police are still awaiting forensic report.

According to the particulars of the offence, the five men who are all residents of Oodi, on the night of August 28, 2013 at Gaborone North Farms acting together with a common purpose murdered one Olebogeng Ramapulane, who is said to have been on duty as a night watchman.

On the second count, the five men are accused for the attempted murder of Liu Jian Hui, still at the same farms on the same day. During attempt on his life, Hui was gravely injured and got admitted at Princess Marina Hospital’s Intensive Care Unit.

Police have so far managed to recover some items believed to have been stolen during the commission of the offence. They have recovered a lap top, documents and P15 280 cash belonging to the injured man.

Police in the meantime are contemplating adding a third charge of armed robbery. Ever since this case began, it has been attracting large number of people, especially relatives of the accused. Next mention is scheduled for April 14. ENDS