Maseru, Mar.16—Advocate Kabelo Letuka, one of the defence lawyers in an ongoing treason trial has on Monday told the court that he has been accused by an interpreter, of being insensitive to a witness therefore, the truthfulness of the accusation should be investigated.
“That is a serious professional charge which could be given by the Law Society of Lesotho or even this court, if I could be perceived as an advocate who is insensitive to witnesses”, he said.
This he said after he had asked a question to Sergeant Kamoho Mahanetsa who was under cross-examination while he was crying and the interpreter told him to be sensitive to the witness as he was not well. The witness had become emotional after he said it was not easy to witness a colleague being killed before his eyes adding that it took long for him to make sense and clearly recall what happened on that day.
Adv. Letuka raised the issue after an adjournment which was taken to allow the witness to calm down. He indicated that he was unable to continue with cross-examination of the witness until the matter was resolved.
Adv. Motene Rafoneke, one of the prosecutors in this matter argued that Adv. Letuka insisted on an answer from the accused even when he realised that he was emotional. He added that he even laughed about it. He stated that the interpreter did not accuse him of anything but asked him to be sensitive to the witness who was overtaken by emotions thus unable to answer questions.
Adv. Letuka responded that he cannot stand by and be accused by lawyers and interpreters of something he did not do.
A judge presiding over the case Justice ‘Maliepollo Makhetha ruled that the matter will be discussed in chambers after the lunch break. She directed that Adv. Letuka continues to cross-examine the witness as the issue has nothing to do with him…
