22 Aug 2016

Magistrate, Odirile Mokgatle of Jwaneng recently sentenced Kutlwano Tshikantwa to four strokes and suspended prison terms on two accounts of assault common.

Tshikantwa was sentenced to six months imprisonment wholly suspended for a year for the first count in which he was convicted of assaulting Laone Kalakae.

On the second count, he was sentenced to 12 months imprisonment wholly suspended for the same period for assaulting Sergeant Mosarwa Lesaka during his arrest.

Mr Mokgatle said, despite the accused’s version of events on July 25, 2014, the court relied on evidence provided by the prosecution’s witnesses that indeed he was guilty of those offences.

He said in the first count, three witnesses who were in the car that both the accused and complainant were travelling in gave corroborative evidence that Tshikantwa assaulted Kalakae. He also noted that Kalakae’s medical form indicated that she was bleeding from the nose.

Furthermore, Mr Mokgatle said when confronted with his victim, the accused maintained silence which translated to guilt.
He said the accused also failed to bring witnesses to prove his case.

On the second count, the magistrate noted that three witnesses testified on the hostility of the accused at the time of his arrest at the police station.

Again, Mr Mokgatle said it was confirmed beyond reasonable doubt that the accused assaulted his victim knowing that he was executing his duties as a police officer as the latter was wearing uniform at the time of the offence.

During mitigation, Tshikantwa had pleaded with the court to be lenient since he was looking after his family and also fully employed. Ends