13 Aug 2019

A 33-year old man of Sedudu ward in Moshupa, who is accused of burning his mother’s house two years ago, will know his fate this Friday. 

Property that included furniture and food was destroyed in the inferno.

Tefo Sebetlela appeared before Kanye magistrate, Ms Ditebogo Ntuli, on Tuesday for continuation of trial and the prosecution called its last witness to close the case. 

In his evidence, the investigating officer, Sub-inspector Mosimanegape Mophuting of Moshupa police station narrated that the complainant, Ms Gaolebale Sebetlela reported the incident on October 27, 2017.

 The accused person was present on that day and disappeared immediately after the fire had started.

“The complainant said she was with the accused person in the sitting room on that day. She reported that she went outside while the accused person went to the bedroom. She also said when she later realised that the house was on fire the accused person was nowhere to be found,” Sub-inspector Mophuting told the court.

He said investigations commenced and a crime scene investigator was deployed to compile a photo album of the scene. 

Sub-inspector Mophuting further told court that the accused was arrested a few days later but when confronted with the allegations he denied. 

He said the accused, however, stated that he was not being treated well as a family member.

During cross examination, Tefo questioned Sub-inspector Mophuting’s evidence, which he said failed to link him to the offence, save for the fact that he was present before the fire started. 

He also noted that neither the complainant nor the witness saw him cause the fire, hence relying on assumptions. 

However, the accused person did not oppose the photo album from the crime scene being admitted as part of evidence before court.

“For smoke to be seen coming from the bedroom yet no one saw me cause the fire does not link me to the offence. You were not there when it happened so how can you confirm that I am linked to the offence,” the accussed asked.

The magistrate said she needed time to re-visit the evidence brought before court and the case was scheduled for August 16, on which the court would make a ruling on whether the accused had a case to answer or not. 

He was further remanded in custody. Ends