Maseru — A case in which Lefa Mabusane is charged with two counts of murder in which he allegedly killed two female nurses at Thaba-Bosiu on August 11 2014, has on Monday failed to proceed as scheduled as some of the witnesses lined up to testify were not available and the matter was postponed to Wednesday for hearing.
It is alleged that the accused killed Mpho Khutsoane and Mathebane Ramatabooe at Ha Mosalla in Thaba-Bosiu, using stones.
It is further alleged that he also stole a motor vehicle belonging to Khuts’oane during the same incident.
According to a preamble presented before court by the prosecution, the deceased were nurses under the Ministry of Health and were attending a workshop at Thaba-Bosiu.
It stated that they collected the accused and his friend Setsokotsane Majalle who were their respective lovers to Thaba-Bosiu but along the way, they turned against them and killed them. It added that Mabusane forced Majalle to drive the stolen vehicle which was later recovered at Bloemfontein in South Africa.
At least three state witnesses have already testified in the matter and several statements admitted. Among the admitted statements are the post mortem reports on each of the deceased which revealed the cause of their deaths as severe brain damage and brain spillage.
The prosecution has already led its key witness Majalle who took the stand as an accomplice witness.
He turned state witness after charges against him were, at the commencement of the trial, withdrawn pursuant to section 278 (3) of Criminal Procedure and Evidence Act of 1981.
The section says,” nothing in this section shall deprive the Director of Public Prosecutions or the public prosecutor with his authority or on his behalf, of the right of withdrawing any charge at any time before the accused has pleaded, and framing a fresh charge for hearing
before the same or any other competent court.”
The accused has pleaded not guilty to all the charges against him.
Although the prosecution challenged his application for extension of bail, the court granted the application indicating that there are no grounds to justify termination of his bail.
The case is before Justice Ts’eliso Mokoko.
Ends/SM
