Maseru, June 08 — A case in which nine members of the army, including Retired Army Commander Lieutenant General Tlali Kamoli, are charged with the murder of their colleague Maaparankoe Mahao, has on Monday failed to proceed as scheduled due to unavailability of a prosecutor in the matter, Advocate Rethabile Setlojoane.
The Court was informed that the prosecutor has an emergency to attend to and that he will be available tomorrow.
The matter was accordingly postponed to tomorrow and the Court issued an order that the defence utilizes the morning hours for consultation at the court before the accused could be taken back to the correctional facility.
The defense is expected to continue to present their case when the matter resumes and cross-examination of Captain Haleeo Makara who is one of the accused in the matter will continue.
The witness has in his evidence, among others, told the court that he was one of the members of an arrest team that went to Mokema to arrest Mahao on June 25, 2015 adding that he is the one who shot him.
Mahao was on that day shot during what the defence call a lawful operation intended to suppress mutiny while the prosecution call it a planned murder.
The defence insisted that the deceased was holding a firearm thus posing danger to the late Captain Tefo Hashatsi who was the leader of the arresting team. They indicated that Hashatsi was asking the deceased to step out of his vehicle so he could be arrested, adding that those who were with him had to protect him from the deceased.
Among the accused who have already testified in this case is the first accused, Captain Litekanyo Nyakane. In his evidence, he admitted that he took part in the operation which was intended to arrest the deceased but ended up in his shooting which resulted in his death.
The accused are alleged to have intentionally shot and killed Mahao at Ha Lekete in Mokema on June 25, 2015.
They are also charged with attempted murder, theft and unlawful damage to property.
The case is before Justice Charles Hungwe.
Ends/SM/tl
