- His bail hearing set for October 6th
A 38-year-old man, Tlhalosang Kelapile, accused of killing his partner, Lesang Noga (40), and her two-year-old and six months son, Yuri Noga, appeared before the Maun Magistrate’s Court on Thursday.
The case stems from a discovery last Friday (September 19th) morning when a passerby who was a resident of Matlapana ward alerted police after finding a woman and child hanging from a tree in Disaneng ward.
According to the charge sheet, Kelapile is accused of murdering the duo on or before September 19, 2025. He has been charged under Section 202 of the Penal Code Act (CAP.08:01), Laws of Botswana.
Kelapile, a self-employed mechanic from Maun, has since denied the allegations in court, telling Chief Magistrate Thebeetsile Molalu that he was attending a church service on the night of the incident and discovered the duo dead upon his return. Kelapile argued that all he wanted to know was what had happened to the woman and child but was cut short with the ruling.
The Magistrate ruled that the accused be remanded in custody until October 6, 2025, when his bail application is set to be heard, citing that investigations on the matter are still ongoing. On the day of the bail hearing where the Investigating Officer Detective Marapo will testify with all the evidence that has been found and the bail can be decided after.
Previously, Maun Police Acting Station Commander, Assistant Superintendent Moutlwatsi Ikobeng, confirmed that following a report by the passerby officers responded to the scene around 7 a.m.
“Upon arrival, we found the woman hanging from a tree while the child was lying lifeless on the ground,” he said.
Ikobeng further stated that Kelapile, who is the child’s father, later arrived at the scene and informed police that he had been at a church service the previous night. He allegedly claimed that when he returned home and did not find the mother and child, he traced their footsteps to the bush, where he made the discovery.
According to police, Kelapile told them he attempted to cut the two down in an effort to save them but was only able to release the child from the tree before alerting nearby residents. The bodies were taken for autopsy to determine the exact cause of death and whether the incident was a suicide or foul play. Police then took Kelapile into custody for further interrogation leading to his arraignment this week.
