31 Jan 2018

The defence team in the Gaborone North Farms murder trial have closed its case after a tough cross examination on the fifth accused, Mpho Mangwa, who had admitted to having taken part in the alleged crime.

Cross examining Mangwa, defence lawyer for the third accused, Gorata Sebego, put it on record that Mangwa was implicating his client because of their turbulent relationship and saw the case as a good opportunity to hit back.

Attorney Maswabi Maswabi said this was true because recently Mangwa burnt down Sebego’s tuck shop to ashes, adding that it was a clear indication that their friendship was on the rocks.

However, Mangwa denied ever torching Sebego’s tuck shop, noting that there was no reason for him to implicate Sebego in the alleged murder and robbery incident which happened at Tuwana Construction Camp site on the night of August 28, 2013, where a Security Systems night watchman was killed, while a Chinese man residing in the property was gravely injured.

In the meantime, attorney for the second accused, Phemelo Tshelang, who allegedly hit the deceased night watchman with an object he picked from the ground asked Mangwa whether he informed investigating officer detective constable Tlamelo Matshaba about the events of August 28, 2013 when he was arrested on August 29, 2013.

He however answered in the affirmative.

Mangwa told attorney Eddie Babuseng that he has known Lebang Ntesi for the past three years before the commission of the crime, but that they were not friends except that they used to see each other around. The court was previously informed that Ntesi was the one who organised the trip to Tuwana where the group was to steal copper and share the proceeds.

Under cross examination from the state counsel, Mr Farayi Mahwite of the Directorate of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Mangwa said he could not find a good and convincing reason as to why he should lie to the court that Sebego was at the scene of crime.

He further said he went out to call Sebego from the first portion of Tuwana camp to come and assist him and Ntesi to gain entry into the China man’s house of which they finally succeeded through pushing the window burglar bars. He conceded that once inside, they looked for copper, but could not find any and therefore looked for any valuables.

The presiding officer, Chief Justice Maruping Dibotelo has set February 23, 2018 as the date which the prosecution should file its final submission while the defence would likewise file its reply on March 23, 2018 with judgement scheduled for April 18, 2018.

Standing trial are Ntesi, Phemelo Tshelang, Sebego, Patrick Gaile and Mangwa. All the accused are on bail except accused number one Ntesi who is in custody for a different offence. Mangwa recently joined him for violating his bail conditions.  

According to particulars of the offence, the five accused 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 a night watchman, Mr Olebogile Ramapulane who was guarding at Tuwana Construction Site camp.

In the course of robbery, they stole items such as cellphones, a Chinese passport which later came out to be a Chinese identity card, a laptop, a laptop charger and a diary.

All items were admitted before court as part of evidence.

They were initially charged for attempted murder on Mr Liu Jian Hui. During the attempt on his life, Hui was gravely injured and got admitted at Princess Marina Hospital’s Intensive Care Unit. He has however left the country thus the charge has fallen.

The accused are now facing only two counts and on the first count the five are charged for armed robbery as the sum of P20 000, a computer lap top, a navy blue blazer and a cellphone were stolen during the commission of the crime. They pleaded not guilty to the charge.  Likewise they pleaded not guilty to the murder charge.  

The prosecution team from the DPP is made of Messrs Farayi Mahwite and Sharpe Dubula, while defence team is made of Ms Wema Isa, Mr Isiah Letlole, Mr Maswabi, Mr Babuseng and Ms Bokani Machinya.ENDS