21 Jun 2024

Manslaughter accused, Mojuta Lesoa was on Thursday convicted of manslaughter on his own plea of guilty before Justice Omphemetse Motumise. Lesoa admitted to all the evidence put before him by the prosecution, thereby nullifying the need for a trial.

He stood accused of causing the death of his then girlfriend, Ntirelang Ralesoso at Mokhomma near Jwaneng in June 2015 following an argument.

Particulars of the matter are that Ralesoso started harassing Lesoa following a menial job that the latter did for the former’s aunt.

“The deceased is said to have demanded the money from the accused following the piece job, but the accused kept informing her that he has not yet been paid, which the deceased seemed to not believe as she kept pestering him for the money,” Justice Motumise said in his judgment. He further indicated that the deceased kept assaulting the accused, even berating him on how worthless of a partner he was. 

After shouldering much of the physical and verbal abuse, the final nail came in the form of bite on the left index finger by the deceased, which forced Lesoa, under the heat of a moment, to drag her and hit her with the nearest stone.

Upon realisation that he might have killed her, Lesoa is said to have travelled all the way to Jwaneng to hand himself over to the police, who accompanied him to the scene of crime.

Ralesoso was then rushed to the hospital where she later succumbed to her injuries, with the post mortem conducted reflecting cerebral injuries, a cumulative of the accused’s actions which he also admitted to. Lesoa, a native of Thankane, will return before the High Court on August 22 for mitigation and sentencing. ends