27 Jun 2018

An alleged Mmopane Block 1 rape and robbery accused will spend some time outside police custody as his defence trial has been moved from July 19 to December 4. 

The new date of continuation of trial was proposed by Ms Atang Mongae, one of the prosecutors, after she reasoned that the initial proposed date, which fell two days after the President Day holidays was no longer suitable for the state. 

The accused, who was due to start his defence case after the state successfully completed its case on May 29 before presiding officer, Gaborone Broadhurst Chief Magistrate Faith Dlamini-N’gandu, will take the witness stand under oath, as he has chosen to give sworn evidence. 

This time around Motshidisi Letsweletse is expected to up his game as he failed to ask probing questions when cross examining state witnesses and at times asked self-incriminating questions. 

This development made Magistrate Dlamini-N’gandu to remind him that he was dealling with a serious offence and therefore should treat the case thoughtfully. 

The 34-year-old Letsweletse of Botalaote ward in Serowe is alleged to have on September 29, 2017 at Mmopane Block 1 in the Kweneng District raped a certain lady. 

On the second count the accused is said to have on the same occasion robbed his victim of a black Vodacom Android cellular phone valued at P500, five 200ml Tropical mango juices valued at P60, 1kg Nutri Day double cream yoghurt valued at P23 and 5kg chicken braai pack valued at P150. 

The accused, who is self-represented, is said to have used violence on the said victim during the commission of the crime and has pleaded not guilty to both charges. 

Ms Mongae and Mr Ookeditse Gabothuse from the Directorate of Public Prosecutions prosecute. 

The last state witness to give evidence was detective constable Percy Molokwe of Mogoditshane police, who said he first met the accused in October 1, last year when he arrived at the police station and told officers that he has raped a certain lady in Mmopane Block 1, but suspects the victim has not reported the matter. 

Detective Constable Molokwe said that the suspect immediately offered to take them to the scene of crime, but unfortunately when they got there the victim was not around and the house was also locked. 

The detective noted that when they were about to return to the office, Letsweletse told them that there was a cellphone that he stole from his victim and fetched it from the house. 

In addition, he told them that there were additional exhibits kept in a nearby under-construction house where some food items were retrieved. 

The retrieval of the food items was done in the presence of Tshiamo “Rasta” Elemetswe, who had accommodated the suspect as they are friends. ENDS