11 Aug 2026

Gaborone High Court judge has admitted into evidence the confession of a Zimbabwean man accused of slitting his girlfriend’s throat with a piece of a mirror.

Abraham Ngwenya, 36, is on trial for the April 30, 2018, murder of Itumeleng Botho Poloko in Tlokweng. At the start of his trial, Ngwenya challenged the confession, claiming that police had coerced him into giving it. However, ruling on Monday, Justice Oteng Motlhala stated that careful analysis of the evidence showed that the statement was lawfully obtained.

“I am satisfied that the confession statement was made freely and voluntarily,” Justice Motlhala ruled.

Ngwenya had testified that armed police officers intimidated him during his arrest, caused him to panic and admit to the crime using a script provided by the arresting officers. Rejecting those claims, Justice Motlhala noted that the judicial officer who recorded the statement, Ms Botho Kgerethwa, conducted a standard pre-assessment and concluded that Ngwenya was acting of his own free will.  The judge added that before the recording, Ngwenya was asked to check his surroundings for any police presence and confirmed none were present.

Furthermore, the court heard that Ngwenya led the police to the crime scene in the presence of two independent witnesses, who testified that the accused was the last person to be seen with Poloko and that he had admitted to killing her upon his arrest.

Prosecutors allege that Ngwenya, a farmworker, killed Poloko following an argument, slit her throat with a small mirror and dumped her body in the bush, which was later discovered days later and decomposed, by a passer-by. Ngwenya is represented by defense attorney King Tshebo. The trial is scheduled for May 19 next year. ENDS