07 Dec 2016

Magistrate Odirile Mokgatle of Jwaneng has slapped Nthusang Tshotlo with a two-year suspended sentence on his stabbing case.

Tshotlo was charged with unlawful wounding of Diteko Kekobileng four times and left an okapi knife blade on his back on July 22 near Ratlhong lands.

When sentencing the accused on Monday (December 5),  Magistrate Mokgatle said the accused was 18 years old and he was confused and did not know what was expected of him during mitigation.

He also mentioned that the accused said he did not know why he stabbed the complainant with a knife.

“Though being young has been argued in many occasions on whether it was an extenuating circumstance, it is relative and substantive in the matter instant and  the court finds  it to be an extenuating circumstance,” said Magistrate Mokgatle.

He also indicated that the law did not encourage prison terms for first offenders but it rather encouraged rehabilitation outside prison walls.

He further said the court found the maturity of the accused to be low and he pleaded guilty to the charge thus saving court’s time and showing remorse.              

He was sentenced to two years imprisonment wholly suspended for two years.   

The facts of the case were that Diteko Kekobileng nearly lost his life after the accused stabbed him by a knife three times on the back and once on the chest, leaving him in a pool of blood with an Okapi knife blade in his body.

Kekobileng had followed his girlfriend to another yard in Ratlhong lands and he found her in company of the accused and other people.

“Upon questioning her why she has been away the whole day, she said the accused refused to pay her the money she owed her.

The accused then told Kekobileng that his girlfriend has been insulting him and he revenged and insulted Kekobileng,” read part of the statement of facts.

The accused person later slapped Kekobileng, crossed the face and stabbed him on the back.

The accused stabbed him again on the chest and later stabbed him twice on the back.

Kitso Meretetse and Onkgopotse Tshotlo found the complainant in a pool of blood with a knife blade and they reported the matter to the police.

The accused was arrested but declined to write a confession statement before a judicial officer.

He later pleaded guilty before court and was charged and convicted on his own plea. ENDS