13 Feb 2019

An investigating officer in an attempted murder case involving Larrious Setshwantsho on Monday pleaded with the court to deny the accused bail because investigations were still at early stages and public tempers were still high.

Inspector Chinga Pateletso of Ghanzi Police Station was pleading with the court not to grant Setshwantsho, whose plea was reserved bail.

He said Setshwantsho, who is accused of shooting Roller Setlabana on February 8 at Bofelo Farm No: 7mk in the Ghanzi District, informed them he had shot the victim.

Asked about the whereabouts of a gun, he said the accused lead them to a white Toyota Land Cruiser, where the gun allegedly used in the commission of the crime was and told them that the said vehicle belonged to him.

Inspector Pateletso said the victim was rushed to Ghanzi Primary Hospital and later referred to Princess Marina and then to Bokamoso Private Hospital, where, based on the update from his colleagues in Gaborone, the victim was in a critical condition.

He told the court that the accused was a younger brother to the victim’s father.

Prosecutor, Sub-inspector Shathiso Ngebane also said in the interest of justice, the accused should be denied bail.

The defence attorney, Thabo Malambane was of the view that the court should not be cajoled by how the state feels, but its decision should be based on presented facts, particularly those that satisfy the bail principles.

He said the fact that the accused called the police after the incident and waited for them at the scene, shows that his actions were not of a man who wanted to kill the victim and that he was willing to cooperate with the police.

Attorney Malambane said the prosecution should not worry about his client’s safety and contended that the public had a responsibility to obey the rule of law.

He said only a medical doctor could pronounce the condition of the victim, adding that the victim was not ‘on critical dying condition’.

Another defence attorney, Poloko Mokwaisi also said the prosecution failed to meet the bail principles, adding that his client’s entire life is based in Botswana.

He is a husband and a father who is also diabetic, whose health should be well taken care of.

Ghanzi Senior Magistrate Thapelo Buang is expected to make ruling on the bail application on Friday. Ends