28 Dec 2017

Double murder accused, Daniel Phadisa has spent the festive season behind bars after the Broadhurst Magistrate Court further extended his remand warrant at the request of the prosecution.

Appearing before magistrate Ms Wame Mosugelo, who was holding fort for magistrate Mr Gaseitsiwe Tonoki, Phadisa asked the court when his typed bail ruling report would be availed to him so that he could use it to apply for bail at the high court. He was, however, informed that he should keep checking it from the clerks of the court.

“Let me remind you that there is a long queue of other accused awaiting the same service before you, and therefore you should remain patient and bear with the court, but keep on checking,” said magistrate Mosugelo before asking him whether there was still something to say before the court.

Phadisa, who uses English as the medium of communication in court, but is not adequately schooled in the Queen’s language, has also admitted that he was not familiar with court procedures and processes. However, he did not attempt to apply for bail as he did in his previous appearances.

Two weeks ago, his third attempt to be granted bail pending trial failed when magistrate Tonoki affirmed the prosecutions fear that he could be a flight risk or commit suicide because of the gravity of the offence he was facing. 

Inspector Oamogetswe Gaboutlwelwe of Broadhurst Police Station, who was holding fort for the substantive prosecutor, had previously informed the court that there were possibilities that Phadisa could commit suicide. He argued that as the reality of what he had down began to sink into his head he could attempt to kill himself, and that it was to early for him to be released into society.

However this time around, the substantive prosecutor, Sub- Inspector Onkemetse Modukanele also from Broadhurst Police Station, brought a bit of relief to Phadisa when she informed the court that investigations in the two murder cases had finally been concluded, and that they would soon forward the docket to the Directorate of Public Prosecutions (DPP) for assessment and possible prosecution.

Phadisa allegedly murdered two women, Ms Bembe Magosi and her daughter, Ms Gomolemo Motladiile in Broadhurst in Gaborone on September 30, 2017. He will come for another mention on January 4, 2018. ENDS