Maseru, Feb. 14 — Principal Chief of Tsákholo and Tebang, Chief Khoabane Mojela was on Wednesday taken to the correctional facility after his bail was cancelled by the High Court following his conviction on murder.
The Chief was found guilty of the murder of Tsenolo Letsie whom he shot and killed at Tsakholo in Mafeteng on May 18, 2020.
According to evidence before court the accused met the deceased at a shop with the owner of that shop. It is stated that when the accused saw the deceased looking at him, he asked him why he was looking at him. It is shown that the accused even fake-slapped the deceased and when the deceased stood up, the accused went to his vehicle.
It is further stated that as he was going to his vehicle, he remembered that the deceased had a gun therefore he turned and shot him. It is added that he then went to the police where he reported that he just shot the deceased and handed over his 9mm pistol which he used in the shooting.
The evidence further showed that the deceased was taken to a clinic from where he was transferred to Mafeteng Hospital. It is indicated that from there he was transferred to Queen Mamohato Memorial Hospital in Maseru where he was treated and discharged days later. It is said that a few days after he was discharged, he developed complications and was taken to Ntsékhe Hospital where he died.
According to a postmortem report, the death of the deceased was caused by traumatic perforation of the heart and internal bleeding.
The defence in the matter claimed self-defence indicating that the deceased had looked at the accused whom he was not in talking terms with, in a manner that he felt threatened. They further added that if the deceased was well taken care of after he was discharged from hospital, he could not have died. They also claimed that the accused had mental problems at the time of the commission of the crime adding that he had not taken his medication.
Evidence by a doctor who worked at Scott Hospital in 2019 indicated that the accused was admitted with epilepsy with symptoms of violence. He indicated that the accused was put on prescribed medication for a lifetime. Evidence however showed that he defaulted.
The court concluded that there was no imminent attack on the accused as the deceased did not respond to any of his provocations. It indicated that he imagined the attack as well as the deceased ownership of a gun. It thus said the defence of private defence cannot stand.
It further concluded that there is nothing that shows that there was provocation which triggered epilepsy on the accused. It emphasised that there is no evidence that linked the incident to epileptic episode. It stated that the accused harboured hatred and anger against the deceased whom he accused of bribing his father into appointing him as a chief.
Presiding judge Justice Mabatsoeneng Hlaele remarked that the accused disliked the deceased who did nothing to provoke him. She added that it was as if his mere existence nauseated him and he was irritated by the fact that they breathed the same air. She stated that nothing justifies the killing of the deceased.
She pointed out that the prosecution has discharged its onus and proved its case beyond reasonable doubt. She emphasised that the accused had a motive to kill the deceased. She thus found him guilty as charged.
Sentencing of the accused has been scheduled for Thursday next week.
The prosecution in this matter is represented by Advocate Lehlanako Mofilikoane while the defence is represented by Adv. Nketsi Makhera.
