News / Africa
Double murder suspects granted bail
06 Mar 2016 at 11:05hrs | Views
The co-suspects in a double murder case have been granted bail by a Broadhurst Magistrates court.
The Voice reported that despite fears for their safety, on Thursday morning, murder suspects Bakang Godisang, 26, and Caroline Gwamolumba, 38, were released on bail.
The pair are accused of the murders of sisters Kgalalelo Mokgalo and Tuelo Mokgalo who died of their wounds after the house that they were sleeping in was set alight.
The older of the two sisters, Tuelo, was heavily pregnant at the time of the fire, and managed to give birth to a baby boy before she eventually succumbed to her injuries a week later.
Conditions of the bail include: the duo had to pay P3, 000 each, provide two citizen sureties from a blood relation as well as binding themselves to the sum of P2, 000.
The two were also required to surrender their passports and have to report to their nearest police station every other Monday.
During the hearing, prosecutor Onkemetse Gaboutlwelwe urged the court to refuse bail, arguing that, due to the horrific nature of the crime, feelings amongst the public and members of the deceased's family are still dangerously high.
Gaboutlwelwe argued that prison was therefore the safest place for the two suspects as there was a real threat of vigilantes seeking their own form of justice.
The prosecutor added that the police have a duty to ensure the safety and security of every citizen, which they would not be able to do if the suspects were granted bail.
However the representatives for the accused, McBain Kaang (representing Gwamolumba) and Herbert Sikhakhane (representing Godisang) successfully argued that, in the eyes of the law, their clients are innocent until proven guilty and so should be treated accordingly.
Sikhakhane added that if the police suspect members of the public to be after retribution by taking the law into their own hands, then it is the police's duty to bring them to task. As a precaution against possible reprisals, it was agreed that, on their release, the suspect's whereabouts would not be made public.
It was also agreed that the co-accused would report to the police station nearest them as opposed to reporting to the cases' investigative officer, Assistant Superintendent Phillimon, of Broadhurst Police.
Gwamolumba, who is living with cancer, was appearing before court for the first time as she has been receiving ongoing medical attention in South Africa for the past two months. Kaang argued that, in her fragile state, Gwamolumba needs to see the doctor every day and that, in prison, her condition was likely to deteriorate.
The next mention date for the case is 28 April 2016.
The Voice reported that despite fears for their safety, on Thursday morning, murder suspects Bakang Godisang, 26, and Caroline Gwamolumba, 38, were released on bail.
The pair are accused of the murders of sisters Kgalalelo Mokgalo and Tuelo Mokgalo who died of their wounds after the house that they were sleeping in was set alight.
The older of the two sisters, Tuelo, was heavily pregnant at the time of the fire, and managed to give birth to a baby boy before she eventually succumbed to her injuries a week later.
Conditions of the bail include: the duo had to pay P3, 000 each, provide two citizen sureties from a blood relation as well as binding themselves to the sum of P2, 000.
The two were also required to surrender their passports and have to report to their nearest police station every other Monday.
During the hearing, prosecutor Onkemetse Gaboutlwelwe urged the court to refuse bail, arguing that, due to the horrific nature of the crime, feelings amongst the public and members of the deceased's family are still dangerously high.
Gaboutlwelwe argued that prison was therefore the safest place for the two suspects as there was a real threat of vigilantes seeking their own form of justice.
The prosecutor added that the police have a duty to ensure the safety and security of every citizen, which they would not be able to do if the suspects were granted bail.
However the representatives for the accused, McBain Kaang (representing Gwamolumba) and Herbert Sikhakhane (representing Godisang) successfully argued that, in the eyes of the law, their clients are innocent until proven guilty and so should be treated accordingly.
Sikhakhane added that if the police suspect members of the public to be after retribution by taking the law into their own hands, then it is the police's duty to bring them to task. As a precaution against possible reprisals, it was agreed that, on their release, the suspect's whereabouts would not be made public.
It was also agreed that the co-accused would report to the police station nearest them as opposed to reporting to the cases' investigative officer, Assistant Superintendent Phillimon, of Broadhurst Police.
Gwamolumba, who is living with cancer, was appearing before court for the first time as she has been receiving ongoing medical attention in South Africa for the past two months. Kaang argued that, in her fragile state, Gwamolumba needs to see the doctor every day and that, in prison, her condition was likely to deteriorate.
The next mention date for the case is 28 April 2016.
Source - The Voice
