24 May 2022

The trial into the murder of Fairgrounds Holdings chief executive officer, Mr Michael Montshiwa continues tomorrow.

Explaining the rationale behind scheduling a trial on a public holiday recently, Justice Dr Zein Kebonang of Gaborone High Court said this was due to lack of available dates for his court.

As such, he said he was open to conducting the trial outside normal working days.

Apart from the unusual Ascension Day court date, the case will also continue on 05 June, which will be a Sunday.

The accused persons, David Modise and traditional doctor Tumelo Tshukudu, are both charged with Montshiwa’s murder. Modise is further accused of stealing P245 000 from the deceased.

In the previous court appearance, state witness Mr Selebogo Mokotedi told court that he had on the fateful day, missed calls from Mr Montshiwa only to learn the following day that he had been shot dead at his home in Block 6, Gaborone. Subsequent to that, he called Modise to visit the place and check what had transpired.

He submitted that Modise told him that he visited the place and found the police at the scene. Mokotedi also said Modise told him that he gave the police his business card so that they could contact him for any assistance.

The two continued with their friendship and added that he, and Modise continued to have conversations regarding the deceased.“I arranged a meeting between David (Modise) and Mr Montshiwa’s father after Montshiwa passing,” he told the court. The purpose of the meeting was for Mr Modise to account for Montshiwa’s money in his possession.

However, he got worried when Modise took longer than anticipated to account for the deceased’s money.

While the process of reconciling the deceased’s funds continued, , Modise called him to a meeting at Molapo Crossing on 13 December 2015, where he asked to be loaned P200 000.

“He said he wanted to buy a franchise in Francistown and wanted to deposit,” he said, adding that he subsequently learned about Mr Modise’s arrest in connection with the crime.

The state will be calling more witness. Ends