27 Feb 2014

Village Magistrate Court's Senior Magistrate Alice Rammapudi has denied murder accused, Matshidiso Boikanyo, bail again as she still considers him a flight risk.

Ms Rammapudi made the ruling on Wednesday, February 26, after she twice postponed the matter because the ruling was not yet ready. When delivering the ruling, she said the applicant had failed to demonstrate that he was no longer a flight risk during his last bail application.

Boikanyo and three others are accused of killing Vincent Mopipi, who was a cab driver on September 13, 2013 at Block 9 location in Gaborone.

He was alleged to have communicated with someone asking the direction to Ramotswa border post which led to South Africa as he intended to go there immediately after the commission of the murder.

Magistrate Rammapudi noted that though the prosecution said there was no evidence of DNA of the deceased on the clothes that the accused was wearing on the night in question, it was not in dispute that the cellphone which was used to call the deceased on that particular day belonged to the accused.

She further said looking at the facts before the court, there was no change of circumstances which warranted the court to consider granting bail to the accused. She therefore advised the accused to apply for bail at the high court if he is not satisfied.

Boikanyo who hails from Tlokweng was charged alongside three other men; Tshwanelo Tshimologo of White City, Onthusitse Kgosiethata of Extension 14 and Moabi Seabelo Mabiletsa of Bontleng all in Gaborone. The four are expected back in court on March 10, 2014.

Meanwhile, Magistrate Rammapudi said she was tired of hearing the accused complaining that he had not been taken to hospital every time he appeared before her though the prosecution was always ordered to take him to see a medical doctor at a government hospital. Boikanyo had told the court that he received injuries while interrogated by the police.

This time around Magistrate Rammapudi informed prosecutor, Ms Kutlwano Magashula to check with prison officials to ensure that Boikanyo had been sent to hospital because last Monday her orders were not followed.  The prosecution will be expected to update the court in the next mention. ENDS