Maseru — Lekhooa Moepi and Tieho Tikiso, members of the Lesotho Defence Force (LDF) who have been found guilty of the murder of three men who were in May 2017 kidnapped, strangled to death and their remains dumped into the Mohale Dam where they were retrieved in September 2017, have on Friday, through their lawyer, asked the High Court to impose a lenient sentence on them.
Advocate Qhalehang Letsika stated that army members including the accused, thought they were doing the right thing when they avenged the killing of one of their colleagues and injuring of another by Famo gangs at the Maseru Border.
He pointed out that there was no justification to what the gang members did, adding that any army would lose their mind if they were challenged by brutal gangsters.
“There are rampant crimes where members of the armed forces are targeted by Famo gangs for ritual purposes”, he said, adding that these gangs are a national problem.
He argued that a finding already made by the Court that the army members were aggrieved that one of them was killed, another injured and a street vendor killed by gangsters is sufficient for the court to now find that extenuating circumstances exist in this case.
The defence lawyer indicated that the accused have been in jail for 9 years as they were arrested in 2017 and never been on bail.
He thus asked the Court to consider the period they have already spent in jail when sentencing them. He pointed out that following their conviction, they will be discharged from the army and become disgraced soldiers.
He added that a criminal record has rendered them unemployable and their careers over.
He told the Court that the conviction has affected Tikiso most as he is only 36 years-old and still young. He said his life has been destroyed by a situation not of his making.
Adv. Motene Rafoneke for the prosecution stated that evidence presented before the Court has shown that the killings of the deceased were premeditated.
He indicated that the army members attempted to kidnap the deceased while they were in police custody, adding that they further kidnapped some of them in the presence of civilians, thus showing willingness to do anything to get them.
He thus argued that there are no extenuating circumstances in the matter.
Moepi and Tikiso were initially charged together with 8 other army members: Rapele Mphaki, Pitso Ramoepana, Mahlehle Moeletsi, Mahlomola Makhoali Nthatakane Motanyane, Motsoane Machae, Liphapang Sefako and Nemase Faso who were in August 2025 acquitted following their application for discharge.
They were all charged with murder, conspiracy to murder, incitement to murder, unlawful detention and conspiracy to commit unlawful detention against Lekhoele Noko, Khothatso Makibinyane and Molise Pakela. While the other 8 accused were acquitted, the duo was
discharged on other charges and Moepi remained with one count of murder as well as unlawful detention of Noko whereas Tikiso remained with three counts of murder involving Noko, Makibinyane and Pakela.
The duo was found guilty as charged based on circumstantial evidence, confession and pointing out as Moepi made a confession before a magistrate about his participation in the
kidnapping of Noko while Tikiso pointed out a spot where the bodies of the deceased were dumped into the Mohale Dam.
In his judgment, the presiding judge stated that the prosecution has satisfied the provisions of kidnapping and unlawful detention of Noko by Moepi adding that his involvement in the disappearance of the deceased has been established by the prosecution.
“The kidnapping of Lekhoele Noko was not coincidental, it was motivated by desire to avenge the shooting of his colleagues”, he said.
He indicated that while the defence lawyer argued that the evidence of pointing out is not sufficient and that no witness testified that Tikiso was involved in the murders of the three
men, the accused is not a random man charged with the murders.
He pointed out that evidence indicated that Tikiso took investigators to Mohale Dam where he pointed out a spot where the bodies of the deceased were dumped and later retrieved from the same spot.
He added that pointing out by the accused is communication by conduct on its
part that he has knowledge of the crime.
“The knowledge of the exact spot where the bodies of the deceased were retrieved is fanciful”, said the judge adding that the accused is involved in the murders of the three men.
In his judgment delivered in 2025 discharging the other accused in the matter, Justice Mokhesi stated that the prosecution failed to establish a prima facie case against the accused.
He pointed out that none of the state witnesses testified to witnessing any of the accused
kill the deceased and dump their bodies into the Mohale Dam.
He added that the prosecution failed to call some of the people who were mentioned by some of the witnesses, to testify.
He further added that some of the state witnesses contradict each other.
The deceased were reportedly part of the suspects taken in by the police in May 2017 following a shooting at the Maseru Border Post whereby two members of the army and a street vendor were shot.
Private Halekhethe Nkonyana sustained injuries while Private Katleho Seliane and Mr. Moiketsi Makhabane died.
The suspects were released from police custody after it was concluded that there was no evidence against them while Motlatsi Rantaoana was charged and convicted in relation to this matter following joint investigations by the police and the army.
The case is before Justice Moroke Mokhesi and sentencing has been deferred until September 14 2026.
Ends/SM
