11 Mar 2014

The state prosecutor in a case in which four men are accused of killing a cab driver has informed the Village Magistrate Court that there is considerable progress in investigations on the matter.

When briefing the court on Monday, March 10, Mr Mmapatsi Tshimologo from the Directorate of Public Prosecutions (DPP) said the police had released another forensic report and photo album, which will be used once the case begins.

He, however, said he was yet to study the two documents. Another forensic report that was recently released by the police showed that the finger prints of the accused and those that were picked from the deceased’s car did not match.

Also, the blood stains found on the clothes that were worn by the accused during commission of the crime did not match the DNA of the deceased.

The four accused are Tshwanelo Tshimologo of White City in Gaborone, Onthusitse Kgosiethata of Extension 14 in Gaborone, Moabi Seabelo Mabiletsa of Bontleng in Gaborone and Matshidiso Boikanyo, who hails from Tlokweng.

According to the particulars of the offense, the four accused on September 13, 2013 at Block 9 location in Gaborone allegedly murdered Vincent Mopipi who was a cab driver, contrary to Section 202 of the Penal Code of the Laws of Botswana. Three of the accused are on bail while Boikanyo has since applied for bail at the High Court.

The magistrate court had refused to grant him bail as it deemed him a flight risk. He is due to appear before the High Court for his bail hearing on March 14.

However, Boikanyo once again requested bail from the new magistrate, Mr Goodwill Makofi, who took over the matter from Ms Alice Rammapudi, who is going on transfer.

Nevertheless, Mr Makofi said he will look into the issue on March 24 after taking into consideration what transpired at the High Court and whether there was any change of circumstances.

Meanwhile the prosecutor, Mr Tshimologo, said he was in the process of writing to the DPP to withdraw charges against accused one and two, with the possibility of charging them again if future evidence linked them to the murder

Mr Tshimologo also prayed for the court to issue a warrant of arrest for the third accused, Mabiletsa, who had since absconded from reporting to the police as stipulated in his bail conditions. The matter will come to court again on April 24. Ends