06 Jun 2024

Magistrate Goratile Moremi-Ramakoloi of Broadhurst Magistrate Court on Tuesday denied murder accused, Aaron Mbangiwa bail. 

Mbangiwa, 25, is accused of murdering Tuelo Dikhutso near Casanova Club in Oodi on Sunday contrary to section 202 of the penal code.

Though he denied him bail, Magistrate Moremi-Ramakoloi said the court would expound on the reasons for his bail denial on June 24. 

The state prosecutor, Ms Desiree Moleta of the Directorate of Public Prosecutions said the state was opposed to bail, adding that the matter was still fresh and admitting him on bail would compromise investigations.

Investigating officer, Directive Constable Mamo Tshube of Botswana Police Service told the court that investigations were still fresh and that the accused was not a bail candidate.

He said the investigating team had not been able to prepare the docket and identify the crime scene, and that granting the accused person bail could compromise investigations as he could tamper with the evidence. 

He also said the accused was difficult to deal with and not cooperating with them.  

He said the murder was committed using a weapon, which had not been found as the accused was refusing to avail it to them.

He further said both the accused and deceased were staying in Oodi and that tempers were still high in the village. 

Constable Detective Tshube further told court that even the postmortem had not been done and was scheduled for Wednesday.

The accused, who works as a labourer in his submission, said he was opposed to being remanded in custody as he had businesses to run and that in his absence there was no one to care for the businesses. 

However, Magistrate Moremi-Ramakoloi shot down the reason, saying it was not sufficient enough to qualify him for bail. ENDs