Maseru, Aug.10 — A newly appointed prosecution lawyer in a case in which two members of the Lesotho Defence Force (LDF) are charged with the murder of Lisebo Tang, which occurred in 2014 near the residence of Former Army Commander Tlali Kamoli at Ha-Leqele, Advocate Motene Rafoneke has undertaken to prosecute the matter to finality.
This is after a judge presiding over the matter Chief Justice Sakoane Sakoane raised an issue that the lawyer has withdrawn in other criminal cases in which the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) appointed him. The judge asked the lawyer if the court is not dealing with a counsel who will later withdraw.
The judge stated that in his court he does not hear matters on a part time basis.
He emphasised that the lawyer will have to proceed with the case on scheduled dates. He added that he wants a prosecutor who deals with a matter to finality as provided for under the Speedy Courts Trials Act.
He stressed that if Adv. Rafoneke is going to take the case, he should clear his diary because he is not going to be allowed to cause postponements because he is appearing in another court.
The lawyer assured the court that he will always be available when the matter is scheduled to proceed. He indicated that the issues which caused him to withdraw from the other matters in which he was given the brief to prosecute, are not present in the current case.
Adv. Rafoneke was this week appointed as the new prosecution lawyer for the case as a mandate of Advocate Lepeli Molapo who was given the brief as a prosecutor was terminated.
The case was initially handled by one of the foreign judges assigned to hear high profile cases Justice Kabelo Lebotse. He however resigned at an advanced stage of the case where he had already ruled that two of the accused Corporal Tjekane Sebolai and Private Selone Ratsiu have a case to answer. He acquitted their co-accused Private Kopano Matsoso indicating that the prosecution has failed to link him to the offences charged.
Apart from the murder charge, the accused who were guarding the residence of Kamoli on May 09, 2014 are also charged with attempted murder of Tsépo Jane who was in the company of Tang on that fateful day. It is alleged that they shot and injured him.
They are further charged with malicious damage to property for allegedly destroying Jane’s vehicle on the same day.
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