Скачать или смотреть Murder suspects freed

The Gaborone High Court has discharged and acquitted Mabogo Lesotlho, Kgololo Lesotlho and Montwedi Molefe of murder.The three, together with their relatives and well-wishers could not hold their excitement at the announcement by Justice Tshepo Motswagole on Tuesday morning.They had been charged with the murder of Ishmael Moseki at Ledumadumane lands near Mmopane on the 25th February, 2012 and they had pleaded not guilty.The State called six witnesses but the judge dismissed the testimony of the four saying it did not assist the Prosecution in any slightest degree.One of the witnesses, Sethata Lesotlho was even declared a hostile witness by the court, at the request of the Prosecution.According to information shared in court, Sethata admitted that he stabbed Bernard Lesotlho but another person, was also stabbed at the same time at a football match and he sought transport to take him and the unidentified person to hospital. He found neither Bernard nor the other person who had already been taken to hospital.
“The witness told the court that he saw Patrick Lesotlho holding a knife but did not seek any information from him. Although he admits giving the police a statement, he said he could not understand it as he spoke in Setswana language but the written statement recorded by the police officer is in English language,” the judge found.
Another State witness, Patrick Lesotlho was also at the football match in question but was not at the scene where the stabbing took place and also did not witness the incident as he was busy saving the referee’s life at the time. Patrick further told the court that upon learning that Moseki was pursued by a crowd, he proceeded to VDC houses where he met many people returning from there whilst others were also proceeding in the same direction. It emerged that Moseki had earlier stabbed Bernard Lesotlho with a knife and dropped it on the way to VDC houses.
“Whilst outside, he saw Ishmael Moseki sprawled on the ground face up in a pool of blood”. A search was conducted for a knife and it was found and later tendered in court as an exhibit. There was no conclusive evidence as to who exactly stabbed the deceased, as there were contradictions and no clear information on who was where at what time.
“What makes it even worse is that even the statements in question are not statements of fact but pure speculation attributable to the said persons. There is absolutely no disclosure of the circumstances that allegedly informed the said persons to believe that the accused persons could have been involved in the stabbing of the deceased person”.
Even the knife that was presented as exhibit did not help the prosecution since blood stains found in it were only consistent with the DNA of Bernard Lesotlho who was earlier stabbed by Moseki and died later hence the mob attack on him (Moseki). The pathologist report says Moseki died of skull and brain injuries and collapse of lungs caused by a blunt force trauma to the head and stabbing to the chest.
“There is virtually nothing on record connecting any of the accused persons with the death of the deceased person,” Justice Motswagole concluded as he set free the three men.
The accused persons were represented by Phemelo Rankoro and Anthony Uhulu.