10 Sep 2015

The 2012 Ledumadumane soccer match murder case, which was scheduled to kick start on September 25, has once again been adjourned. Some state witnesses failed to show up.

Justice Tshepo Motswagole of Gaborone High Court said he did not want to start with a few witnesses as this would prolong the case unnecessarily. He, therefore, said it would be prudent for the state to secure all witnesses when the case goes for trial on February 23, 2016.

The state had earlier said it was prepared to bring in three witnesses on Tuesday and bring another two on Wednesday while the remaining six were to be brought on September 22 and 23. However, the court set new trial dates as February 23-24 and March 1-2, 2016.

Meanwhile, the prosecutor from the Directorate of Public Prosecutions, Mr Kutlo Tsekane, apologised to the court for having omitted to file contents of their meeting which they held in June together with the defence team.

The meeting of the two parties was to navigate the conduct of their case and to know which evidence would be admitted by the defence and as such be removed from the list of those who would come to testify.

In this regard, Justice Motswagole who inherited the case from Justice Bengbame Sechele who has since left for Francistown High Court, said it would be prudent if the court was furnished with contents of the meeting in a written form for official documentation.

Initially the trial was supposed to have gone on full swing last year September, but was incidentally halted owing to late serving of defence team with photo albums and documentary statements.

At the time, Mr Tsekane who is assisted by Mr Kealeboga Kapeko said the defence had asked for a rescheduling because they had to study the statements and determine which they could admit as well as to study the photos of the deceased showing injuries sustained.                

The accused in the matter are Mabogo Lesotlho, Kgololo Lesotlho (cousins) and Montwedi Molefe. The trio was accused of jointly and unlawfully murdering Ishmael Moseki during a football match at Ledumadumane near Mmopane on February 25, 2012.  

According to police reports, argument broke out between supporters of the Ledumadumane’s Swallows Football Club and Mmopane’s Molapo Green Birds leading to one supporter of Green Birds being butchered with a sharp instrument.

Upon realising that one of their own had been killed, pandemonium ensued and Green Birds supporters retaliated in a mob fashion and descended on the deceased with anything they could lay their hands on. The first accused, Mabogo is represented by attorney, Mr Phemelo Rankoro, while Kgololo is represented by attorney, Mr Modise Melusi David. Molefe on the other hand is represented by attorney, Mr Anthony Ahulu.

The accused are all in bail. Ends