27 Mar 2024

The prosecution in the gruesome Kopong murder case has been ordered to wrap up and have the case committed to the High Court.

Broadhurst Magistrate, Ms Jobbie Moilatshimo said Tuesday when the quartet, Oageng Moagi Letsholo (47), Leufty Gaolemogwe Kosie (48), Outlwile Aston (49) and Kebaleboge Ntsebe (43) appeared before her for status hearing.

The four have been charged with the murder of Barulaganye Aston, who was murdered in July at her home in Kopong. 

The deceased, who worked as a teacher in Kopong, was also a wife to the third accused person, Outlwile.

Magistrate Moilatshimo said the case had lingered long on her desk and needed to be committed to the High Court for commencement of trial.

Meanwhile, Letsholo, who is a serving inmate for a different offence, asked for court’s intervention to seek medical assistance. He said an attempt by his family to assist him seek alternative medical help was not successful although the court had ordered that he be assisted.

To that, Magistrate Moilatshimo said the chief magistrate was scheduled to visit prison soon and the case would be addressed.

On other issues, Letsholo conveyed to the court that Broadhurst Magistrate Court had failed to furnish him with court proceedings of the case he was convicted of, which he said delayed his appeal’s hearing.

He said without the court proceedings, there was no way the High Court could entertain his appeal, which he said he filed before the court.

The 47-year-old Letsholo was in 2022 following his arrest in connection to the Kopong murder, sentenced to a prison term of 10 years for a conviction of grievous bodily harm, which he inflicted on his former girlfriend in Mmatseta and had been on the police wanted list.

Apart from the current sentence, Letsholo’s record shows propensity to be in conflict with the law, which dated back to February 1993, when he was sentenced to three months imprisonment, three strokes and fined for stealing.

Other offenses on his record include a 1994 escape from police custody, motor vehicle theft, house break-in and theft, assaulting a police officer, robbery, unlawful possession of firearms and ammunition among others. 

The quartet will appear again before the magistrate on June 6.  Ends