28 Jun 2023

Murder accused, Gabalape Matsime has expressed frustration over the intention of the public prosecution to speed up committing his case to the High Court, at a time when he has just approached the same court for bail application.

Matsime, who was appearing before Magistrate Goratile Moremi-Ramakoloi on Monday, said such a move by the state would make his bail application pointless, as he would have to apply for bail again when his case reached the High Court.

He was responding to a comment made by prosecutor, Sergeant Mmoloki Selofela of Botswana Police Service, who had told the court that the matter could be committed to the High Court within a month.

However, a furious Matsime, who told the court that he had just filed a bail application with the High Court, said the state meant to thwart his effort of being out on bail, adding that his High Court bail application would just turn to be a waste of time.

“Ke a le utlwa mme ga ke dumalane le lona, le sotla ka batho fela,” Matsime said after Magistrate Moremi-Ramokoloi explained that the processes of committing murder cases to the High Court was the same.

Magistrate Moremi-Ramakoloi had further explained that the process was lengthy and would not deter him from pursuing his bail application.

“The process is done as a system of checks and balances, it should not stop you from pursuing your bail application,” explained Ms Moremi-Ramokoloi.

She further advised Matsime to file supplementary papers to the High Court to indicate that his matter was due for committal, adding that the judge could consider that when dealing with his bail application.

Matsime faces a single charge of killing his girlfriend, who was a police officer at Broadhurst Police Station by stabbing her with a sharp object on December 30 last year at Tsholofelo in Gaborone. He will appear for mention again on July 25. Ends