23 Jan 2018

One of the five accused in the Gaborone North Farms murder case has denied ever going to Tuwana Construction Camp site and took part in the murder of a Security Systems night watchman on the night of August 28, 2013.

Lebang Ntesi, who is accused number one, made the remarks at the start of the defence case before Chief Justice Maruping Dibotelo on Monday, where he blamed Security Systems and police officers especially investigating officer detective constable Tlamelo Matshaba for conniving to pin him on the crime he has never committed.

Giving evidence in chief, Ntesi (32), led by his attorney Ms Wema Isa, told the court that on the morning of August 28, 2013 when he woke up at 6am he was told by his landlord to vacate the house because there was going to be a funeral  and the house would be used as wood storage.

He said the landlord referred him to a next door house which was unoccupied . Ntesi, who during cross examination from the state prosecutor Mr Farayi Mahwite denied ever making a statement to the police , said upon finishing cleaning the house he then engaged in cleaning the yard.

He said while still cleaning the yard in the company of his younger brother, Nthoiwa Ntesi, the second accused Phemelo Tshelang arrived and helped them clean up, a task which they finished at around past 5 pm.

In the meantime he told the court that the three went to sleep at around  8 pm at night but were awaken by Security Systems officers early in the morning at around 4am. He said upon their entry into the house the officers started assaulting them demanding that they hand over some Chinese man’s property. He said there were more than 10 officers.

He however denied ever handing a navy blue blazer jacket and a Chinese cellphone to the officers, as stated earlier by the state.
Ntesi further said he never took the police to the scene neither did he took them around the Tuwana Construction site where a Chinese man was gravely injured while a security officer was killed. In addition Ntesi said he did not point to the two bolt cutters at the scene which were used to cut the fence to gain entry but instead only saw them during trial when they were exhibited. He also said the shoe cast of Omega shoe was not his as he was not the only one who put on such a shoe type.
Ntesi who has been in police custody since December 2, 2015 for motor vehicle theft and burglary, under cross examination from Mr Mahwite said he did not remember ever giving any statement to the police except being warned and cautioned of the alleged crime.

He further alleged that detective Matshaba and other police officers tortured them.

Asked why he was refuting all the evidence given before the court by Security Systems officers, who participated in tracking and apprehending them and Mr Matshaba who investigated the matter, he said he did not know why they chose to incriminate him but noted that Mr Matshaba could be in the mission to strengthen the state case.    

Meanwhile he told the court that between 5pm and 8 pm in August  28 2013, they were watching movies of which Mr Mahwite put to him that it was the time when they were robbing the Chinese at Tuwana Construction site. He further said the accused had chosen to conveniently distance himself from the scene of crime when it suited him, a trend which he said was not helping his defence case.  

Standing trial are Ntesi, Tshelang, Gorata Humble Sebego, Patrick Gaile and Mpho Mangwa. All the accused are on bail except accused number one and five. Ntesi is in custody for a different offense while Mangwa’s bail was revoked after he violated it.

According to the particulars of the offence, the five men who are all residents of Oodi in Kgatleng District, on the night of August 28, 2013 at Gaborone North Farms acting together with a common purpose murdered night watchman, Mr Olebogile Ramapulane, who was guarding at Tuwana Construction Site camp.

In the course of robbery they stole items such as a navy blue blazer jacket, cellphones, a laptop, a laptop charger and a diary. All items were admitted before court as part of evidence. They also stole P20 000 from the occupant of the house. They have pleaded not guilty to the two charges of robbery and murder.

The prosecution team from the DPP is made of Messrs Mahwite and Sharpe Dubula while defence team is  Ms Isa, Mr Isiah Letlole, Mr Maswabi Mwando Maswabi, Mr Eddie Babuseng and Ms Bokani Machinya. The trial continues. Ends