16 Nov 2016

The marathon Ramankhung murder case which was scheduled for continuation of trial on November 14 failed to start as the investigating officer, who was to take the witness stand failed to make it to the court.

Updating the Gaborone High Court, the state prosecutor, Ms Sally Boitumelo from the Directorate of Public Prosecutions (DPP) said the investigating officer from Molepolole Police Station immediately fell sick when the case adjourned on October 11, 2016 and has never reported back to work ever since.

Ms Boitumelo also noted that the other remaining state witness, who is a Princess Marina Hospital -based pathologists, has just arrived from leave and has not been served with subpoena papers to come and testify.

In this regard, she told the presiding officer, Chief Justice, Mr Maruping Dibotelo that there was no how the case could continue and therefore requested the court to set another date of mention when she would update the court. 

The two state witnesses were to be the last to give evidence before the state could close its case, thus paving way for defence case to resume.

Standing trial is Kabonyana Ramokgwaneng, who is accused of the murder of Moremi Majato Motlasuping in Ramankhung settlement near Lentsweletau.

 He is accused of having hit the deceased with an iron rod on November 21, 2011 and was rushed to Scottish Livingstone Hospital in Molepolole. 

The deceased was transferred to PMH the following year and died on January 1, 2012.  Meanwhile, Justice Dibotelo set March 7 and 08, 2017 as continuation dates of trial and further extended bail for the accused, who is represented by attorney Mr David Moloise. BOPA