Maseru, Aug.04—The High Court is on Monday next week, in a murder trial against some members of the army who are accused of killing Brigadier Maaparankoe Mahao, expected to hear an application for withdrawal by two prosecution lawyers Advocates Shaun Abrahams and Motene Rafoneke.
This is not the first case in which the two lawyers seek withdrawal. They were yesterday granted leave to withdraw in a case in which two politicians, former army commander and the army members are among others charged with treason, which allegedly occurred in August 2014.
They have also applied to withdraw in a case in which four police officers are charged with the murder of their colleague Police Constable Mokalekale Khetheng.
The applicants have in their applications for withdrawal cited a relationship breakdown between them and the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) who gave them the briefs to prosecute the matters. They stated that the DPP has been provided with the widest possible timeline to attend to legitimate concerns they raised which are relevant to the execution of their briefs as well as to retain the services of alternative lawyers to take over from them, but without any success.
They insisted that they have taken the requisite measures to timeously provide notice to the DPP of their intention to withdraw as prosecution lawyers as early as May 21 2023.
At least nine army members including Former Army Commander Tlali Kamoli stand accused of the murder of Mahao and several other offences in the matter.
It is alleged that the deceased in the matter was shot and killed on June 25 2015 at Ha Lekete in Mokema.
The case is before Justice Charles Hungwe.
