16 Nov 2017

Gaborone Broadhurst Magistrate Court on Tuesday denied double-murder accused Daniel Phadisa bail after his spirited attempt to cajole the court to grant him bail pending trial failed.

Phadisa who was communicating in English to much amazement of the audience who had swamped the court, had promised to abide by all bail conditions and criticised insinuation by the prosecution that he may temper with investigations should he be granted bail.

Earlier on, Inspector Onkemetse Gaboutlwelwe of Broadhurst Police Station who was holding fort for substantive prosecutor, told the court that she has been instructed to inform the court that police were still investigating and that the accused should be further incarcerated as his release may jeopardise their investigations.

Inspector Gaboutlwelwe noted that currently they were awaiting post mortem report, adding that they were yet to compile photo album of the scene as well as record some additional statements from possible state witnesses.

However, magistrate Gaseitsiwe Tonoki who presides over the matter was not impressed by the prosecution’s submission, noting that police could not just keep an accused in jail and claim that they are still investigating without elaborating how long will their investigations take.

He further wondered how the accused could interfere with investigations on postmortem report if granted bail.  Nevertheless, the magistrate who urged the investigators to up their game, refused the accused bail, noting that since the accused is facing two murder counts, the police should be given a little more time to investigate thoroughly particularly that the murder took place one and half months ago.

In the meantime, Phadisa told the court that he is living under constant fear at the Gaborone Prison from one prison warden, whom he only identified as George, who is always accusing him of killing his relatives.

He therefore said he should be taken to a different prison facility as he fears for his life.

Phadisa allegedly murdered two women, Bembe Magosi and her daughter Gomolemo Motladiile in Broadhurst location in Gaborone on September 30, 2017 and he will appear again for mention on November 27, 2017. BOPA