14 Jun 2020

The trial in which a Botswana Defence Force officer is facing a single count of rape has been postponed to August.

Major Mmusi Olefile is alleged to have raped his colleague’s wife at their matrimonial home in March last year.

However, continuation of the trial was on Wednesday interrupted by the defence attorney demanding statements allegedly recorded by one of the prosecution’s witnesses, Ms Gaone Tiro.

Court heard that there was a statement recorded by Ms Tiro during cross examination by defence attorney, Mr Enock Mazonde. He argued that the statement was never availed to them.

He noted that the only two statements in their possession were that of March 26 and 28 contrary to the witness’s claim to have recorded the first statement at Molepolole Police Station on March 24.

Mr Mazonde pleaded for the postponement of the case to a later date, arguing that information contained in the alleged statement could be important and necessary in building their case.

“I humbly pray for postponement of the case to allow prosecution to furnish us with the alleged statement that may be critical to our defence,” he said.

Presiding magistrate, Ms Refilwe Resheng agreed to postpone the case to August 21 and September 10 and 11 in order for the prosecution to furnish the defence with the said statement.

Giving evidence in chief, Ms Tiro told the court that she was in the company of her husband, the accused and friends from a pool party.

She said both the accused and the victim were driving in the latter’s car because she was apparently drunk, and they left her at their matrimonial home at Thebephatshwa in the wee hours of March 24.

“We initially followed the accused who was driving the victim’s car to ensure that she was safe at her house and locked her inside and left.

The accused then got into our car which was parked outside the victim’s yard and we left him there while we walked to our place,” Ms Tiro narrated.

She told court that the victim later arrived at their house to narrate what had happened to her, and she told them that she had been raped by the accused. ENDS