Maseru, Feb.17—- The High Court will tomorrow sentence Jeremane Sekhohola, a former police officer convicted on murder of his ex-girlfriend Matsépang Moleleki.
Sekhohola was on Monday found guilty of stabbing the deceased to death during an incident which occurred at Berea on February 17 2025.
The conviction came after the accused pleaded guilty to murder as he could not secure a plea bargain and the prosecution led evidence to prove its case.
Among the witnesses who testified was the father of the deceased Mr. Tau Mohapi. He stated that on the day the deceased was killed, they (he and the deceased) had gone to the Berea Police Station for intervention. He pointed out that the deceased had told him that she was going to report the accused as he threatened to kill her when she wanted to end their relationship, therefore he joined her top the police station.
He pointed out that after the accused was called by his superiors and they (accused and deceased) were told to break up, the accused stated that the deceased should return his properties including sneakers worth M800.00, two-burner stove and M300.00 cash which he had given to her.
The witness indicated that when he and his daughter (the deceased) left the police station, there was an agreement that she was going to bring the sneakers together with the stove because she did not have the M800.00. He told the court that he went to Teya-Teyaneng to run his errands while the deceased went to her place at Ha Nkalimeng.
He testified that when he later called the deceased, his calls went unanswered adding that the fourth call was picked by a police officer who said they were working. He said he then decided to go to the police station. He added that on his way he met a group of people and the police gathered around what he discovered to be the body of his daughter. He indicated that the police told him that she was killed by the accused who surrendered himself to the police afterwards.
The case could not proceed in November last year when it was scheduled for hearing as the then accused’s lawyer Advocate Katiso Nhlapo withdrew his services.
In motivating his withdrawal, the lawyer stated that during consultation with the accused, he discovered some information which rendered him conflicted. He pointed out that if he had that information before he was instructed, he could not have taken the brief.
The accused who at that time revealed that he planned to instruct Adv. Motiea Teele (KC) as his new legal representative was given time to secure a lawyer so the case could proceed this week.
The case is before Justice Ts’eliso Mokoko and the accused is represented by Advocate Christopher Lephuthing while the prosecution is represented by Adv. Thato Lepheana.
Ends/SM/BM
