Maseru, Feb. 19 — Captain Haleeo Makara has on Thursday told the High Court that members of an arrest team which took Maaparankoe Mahao to the Makoanyane Military Hospital after he was shot, had their heads bowed with sadness when they were told he died.
This he said as he continued to give evidence as part of the defence witnesses and one of the accused in a case in which nine members of the army including Retired Army Commander Lieutenant Tlali Kamoli are charged with the murder of the deceased.
Mahao was on June 25, 2015 shot during what the defence call a lawful operation intended to suppress mutiny while the prosecution call it a planned murder.
The accused who in his evidence has admitted that he is the one who shot the deceased, today informed the court that he was forced to shoot the deceased on the right side because he could not aim at his hand as there was no time for that. He stated that it was going to take him long to aim at the hand because it is one of the small parts of the body.
The defence insisted that the deceased was holding a firearm thus posing danger to Captain Hashatsi who was the leader of the arresting team and was asking the deceased to step out of the vehicle so he could be arrested. They add that therefore those who were with him had to protect him.
Captain Makara indicated that it had to happen that the vehicle in which the deceased was travelling got damaged during the shooting.
“There was no other way I could be able to help Captain Hashatsi without shooting at the window of the truck. It was impossible for me to go open the window, then come back and shoot,” said the accused.
Among the accused who have already testified is the first accused in the matter, Captain Litekanyo Nyakane. In his evidence, he admitted that he took part in an 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 continues before Justice Charles Hungwe.
Ends/SM/tl
