Maseru, Feb. 10 — The prosecution in a case in which two army members are charged with the murder of Lisebo Tang which occurred near the home of Retired Army Commander Lieutenant General Tlali Kamoli in 2014, says a defence that a Red Alert had been issued when the shooting occurred is a cover-up story.
Sergeant Tjekane Sebolai and Private Selone Ratsiu who were on May 09, 2014 on a night duty at the residence of Kamoli are alleged to have shot and killed Lisebo Tang who was in the company of Tsépo Jane who survived the shooting with injuries. It is further alleged that they also damaged the vehicle in which Tang and Jane were travelling in.
According to the defence, there was a Red Alert that a white 4×4 was going about bombing places.
They added that the accused were told that there were police officers who wanted to arrest the then army commander therefore they must prevent that from happening.
Advocate Motene Rafoneke argued that the accused shot at the vehicle and its occupants because they thought they were the police who wanted to arrest the commander, therefore they were protecting him. He insisted that the accused conspired and made up the story of the existence of the red alert after the shooting.
Evidence presented before the court revealed that the accused shot at the vehicle in which Jane and Tang were travelling in because it matched a description of the vehicle mentioned in the Red Alert. It further revealed that Jane and Tang ignored warnings and instructions from the accused to step out of the vehicle and identify themselves.
The evidence showed that the accused considered the vehicle a threat due to the manner in which it conducted itself around the home of the army commander and their work vicinity.
It added that they were following the order: “capture the enemy, if it resists or flees, eliminate it,”, when they shot at the vehicle.
The accused were initially charged together with Private Kopano Matsoso who was in 2020 acquitted after the court ruled that he did not have a case to answer as there was no evidence linking him to the offences charged.
Apart from murder, the accused are also standing trial for attempted murder and malicious damage to property.
The case is before Chief Justice Sakoane Sakoane.
Ends/SM/tl
