30 Apr 2020

 A 44-year-old man of Lesoma, who attacked and wounded a social worker based in the same village using a slasher briefly appeared before Kasane Magistrate Court on a single count of unlawful wounding.

According to the charge sheet, Ntengu on April 29 in Lesoma, without any lawful excuse, wounded Mr Atlasame Ledimo on the left arm with a sharp object, which sustained him a deep cut.

According to the police, the victim had gone to Ntengu’s homestead to assess the family for the COVID-19 food basket.

The prosecutor, Sub Inspector Benjamin Mmualefhe of Kazungula Police Station told the court that investigations into the matter were still fresh and the state opposed bail for the accused.

Motivating bail opposition, investigating officer, Sargent Mafika Mabena of Lesoma Police Post said  investigations were still at the initial stage.

He also said if the suspect could be granted bail, there was a possibility that he might interfere with state witnesses, especially his girlfriend, whom he stayed with.

Sargent Mabena further stated that the accused person and the Vvictim both reside in Lesoma and that the victim had been referred to Nyangabgwe Referral Hospital in a critical condition.

He said the police were also awaiting a medical report from the doctors that would determine the extent of injuries sustsained by the victim.

Sargent Mabena also said the accused refused to hand over the weapon he used in the commissioning of the offence, but instead handed a rod, claiming that he had thrown the said weapon into a pit latrine.

Applying for bail, Ntengu said he had minor children to look after as a breadwinner.

He also told the court that he was provoked by the victim's behaviour, whom on April 22 kissed his girlfriend when he (victim) had come to assess them, something that did not go well with him.

He said he was suspicious that the victim was still following on his girlfriend because on that fateful day, he came at night using a private vehicle, and wondered why assessment was being done at night.

However, that was immediately objected by the state, adding that its preliminary investigations had revealed that he attacked the victim while outside his homestead.

Ntengu will come back to court on May 11 in which the state will update the court on the progress of their investigations. Ends