News / Africa
Ritual murder suspects granted bail
21 Feb 2016 at 08:55hrs | Views
Chief Daniel Mathiba's two sons and a third suspect accused of murder were this week granted bail despite objections from the state prosecutor who argued that the trio should remain behind bars since it was suspected ritual murder.
The Voice reported that the two royals from Mathethe, Ofentse Phenyo Mathiba, 28, Tumisang Tshidiso Mathiba, 34 and Thato Shadrack Koosaletse, 23, appeared before Lobatse Chief Magistrate Dipate Mareledi on Monday for an urgent bail application following their detention on February 8.
The three are facing one count of murder after they allegedly killed John Ngwenya, a Zimbabwean national who was herdboy in Mmarole lands on January 26.
The other suspect Gindra Stegling did not appear before the court.
In his argument, the accused lawyer, Lesedi Moahi of Moahi Attorneys said his clients had a right to be granted bail as one Bakgatla chief was once accused of a similar offence but was granted bail.
Moahi further said the police had not verified the identity of the deceased and thus his clients should not be inconvenienced by the slow pace characterising the investigations.
State attorney, Neo Kgothi however said the deceased was last seen on January 26 and the suspects were first persons found at the scene with the remains moved for about 600-700m away from the scene.
He said Ngwenya was murdered and mutilated.
"Ritual murder is a sensitive case and since there are allegations that the person was murdered for rituals the suspects should remain in jail," he said.
He told court that the deceased was tied to a pole and brutally assaulted with a claw hammer and sticks until he died.
"On February 4 police in Goodhope received an anonymous call with the caller alleging that the chief and his family were behind the disappearance of the man. I therefore plead with the court to further remand the accused as the case is complex," he said.
That however did not convince the magistrate who went on to grant the suspects bail.
"Despite the charge, evidence should be produced and the suspects should be presumed innocent until proven guilty," said Dipate.
The Voice reported that the two royals from Mathethe, Ofentse Phenyo Mathiba, 28, Tumisang Tshidiso Mathiba, 34 and Thato Shadrack Koosaletse, 23, appeared before Lobatse Chief Magistrate Dipate Mareledi on Monday for an urgent bail application following their detention on February 8.
The three are facing one count of murder after they allegedly killed John Ngwenya, a Zimbabwean national who was herdboy in Mmarole lands on January 26.
The other suspect Gindra Stegling did not appear before the court.
In his argument, the accused lawyer, Lesedi Moahi of Moahi Attorneys said his clients had a right to be granted bail as one Bakgatla chief was once accused of a similar offence but was granted bail.
Moahi further said the police had not verified the identity of the deceased and thus his clients should not be inconvenienced by the slow pace characterising the investigations.
He said Ngwenya was murdered and mutilated.
"Ritual murder is a sensitive case and since there are allegations that the person was murdered for rituals the suspects should remain in jail," he said.
He told court that the deceased was tied to a pole and brutally assaulted with a claw hammer and sticks until he died.
"On February 4 police in Goodhope received an anonymous call with the caller alleging that the chief and his family were behind the disappearance of the man. I therefore plead with the court to further remand the accused as the case is complex," he said.
That however did not convince the magistrate who went on to grant the suspects bail.
"Despite the charge, evidence should be produced and the suspects should be presumed innocent until proven guilty," said Dipate.
Source - The Voice
