21 Nov 2023

Murder accused Andy Sematlho’s bid for freedom hit a snag for the second time when Molepolole senior magistrate Ms Keabetswe Majuta denied him bail on Monday.

Chief magistrate Mr Gaseitsewe Tonoki had previously denied him bail during his November 2 court appearance.

Extending the accused’s remand, Ms Majuta ruled that the matter is still under investigation, hence granting Sematlho bail would be imprudent, especially in light of the seriousness of the charge he is facing.

She ordered that the accused remain in custody until his next appearance set for December 1.

Opposing Sematlho’s application for bail, Sergeant Pako Kgosimolao of Botswana Police Service told the court that the postmortem report was yet to be completed and that the accused had still not been taken for a psychiatric evaluation.

Those reasons, he said, mean that investigations into the matter are still ongoing.

Sematlho, who is accused of killing his girlfriend, Ms Sedilame Sikalefe in Lentsweletau last month, has pleaded with the court to release him on bail to care for a two-year-old infant he had with the deceased as he is the toddler’s only surviving parent. ENDS