07 Dec 2021

 The Village magistrate court has remanded in custody the fourth accused person in the murder of Keabetswe Tantapane at Mmopane on November 26.

The accused, Kealeboga Baese aged 32 years appeared before chief magistrate, Dr Goodwill Makofi on Monday to face charges of murder, unlawful wounding and assault common.

According to the court records, Baese together with three others who are already in custody attacked and murdered Tantapane. The trio are Tefo Garefetse and Thato Letowa both aged 23 years old, and 19-year-old Kaelo Jack.

They are also alleged to have stabbed Ditaba Tantapane on the right buttocks with a knife and also assaulted Goitseone Tantapane by kicking her all over the body causing her to sustain some injuries.

In motivating for his remand, Inspector Galekhute Mashumba of Botswana Police Service said the investigations into the matter were ongoing and police were still awaiting for the incident pathology report.

Inspector Mashumba told court that the family, friends and relatives of the deceased were still angry, which put the accused’s safety in danger and prayed for the court to remand him.

Dr Makofi said Baese would be remanded in custody until the finalisation of the investigations.

“It would not be in the interest of justice to admit the fourth accused to bail, “he said.

He said court dealt with the other three accused persons three days ago in the absence of Baese, who was said to be in custody at Mahalapye, after he was arrested trying to flee.

The chief magistrate stated that the three other accused persons were denied bail on account that they had just committed an offence and the police needed more time to complete their investigations.

 “I hold the same with regard to the fourth accused,” he added.

 Dr Makofi said it had been reported before court that the deceased’s family, parents and friends were still angry, hence the possibility of revenge could arise.

 In addition, he pointed out that the public had been besieged with robbery cases, in which armed robbers use violence hence the matter should be treated with the seriousness it deserved.

Baese will appear for mention on December 16. ends