24 Mar 2020

A case in which Enerst Legwale of Mochudi is accused of plotting the murder of his wife, Dimpho Meswele, is set for trial from July 6 to 10.

The first accused’s lawyer, Advocate David Ndlovu, told the court on Monday that they have not yet for the pre-trial  conference (PTC) where they were to gather minutes from all statements made before the trial commenced.

Legwale is accused alongside two Zimbabwean men, Hamadi Mkhuha and the other.

They are said to have on or about September 10, 2015 at or near Oodi in the Kgatleng Administrative District, acting jointly and with a common purpose unlawfully assaulted Thato Meswele thereby inflicting injuries on her from which the said Thato died on the 14 September 2015.

The DPP attorney, Bose Senome submitted before court initial statements which were also paving the way for trial commencement.

He suggested that a new mention date be set where they hoped to be done with the pre-trial conference.

It was alleged that on the morning of the incident Dimpho’s younger sister, Thato, went outside the house as they were preparing to go to work when she was accidentally hit by an assailant with a hard object on her head sustaining a deep wound.

Legwale was said to have been absent at the scene on the day of the ordeal, but had since told the police that he had not sent the men to kill his wife but to plant a baboons head in the yard in order to help him reconcile with his wife.

The second accused,  Mkhuha, is also facing another charge of unlawfully staying in Botswana.

The particulars of the offence are that between 11 June 2017 and 20 February 2018 both dates inclusive, at or near Mmopane Block 1 in Kweneng Administrative District, being a non-citizen, unlawfully remained in Botswana for a period of 256 days after the expiration of his visitor’s permit.

The third accused person, Legwale’s second accomplice, has been on the run to date and has not yet been added to the charge sheet.

The next mention is set for May 18, 2020, where the counsels are expected to have filed their pre-trial conference.  ENDs