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Police in Kazungula are investigating an incident in which a 36-year old man of Mokgacha village in Ngamiland allegedly stabbed to death a 36-year-old woman believed to be his girlfriend at New Stance ward in Kazungula on Monday.
The incident is reported to have occurred in the afternoon near a local clinic following a misunderstanding between the suspect and his girlfriend who is from Manxotae village.
According to Kazungula Police Station Commander Superintendent Phetogo Phillimon, the reports surrounding the matter indicate that the deceased had requested to end the two’s relationship but the suspect could not accept that and instead decided to end the girlfriend’s life. The suspect is alleged to have used a sharp instrument suspected to be a knife to stab the deceased on her body.
Phillimon has revealed that after the victim was stabbed she was immediately rushed to the nearest Kazungula clinic to get medical attention but she was later referred to Kasane Primary Hospital after it was found out that she suffered serious injuries.
The superintendent said upon arrival at the hospital, the victim was certified dead by medical doctors and her body is currently awaiting post-mortem. Phillimon said the suspect was arrested by the police on the same day of the incident in Kazungula and he is currently in custody assisting police with the investigations. The accused person, Goitsemodimo Mothaedi was on Wednesday arraigned before the Kasane Magistrate Court charged with the murder of Kagiso Keaketswe and he was denied bail.
The Investigating Officer (IO) of the case, Jakahama Seleka had pleaded with the court to remand him since investigations into the matter are still fresh indicating that they have not yet recorded the statements from the six witnesses. He noted that they have discovered that two of the witnesses into the incident have fled to Francistown in fear of the accused while the cell phones of other four witnesses are currently offline.
He pleaded with the court to give them a space of two weeks or a month so that they can have some time to record statements from the said witnesses. Seleka also noted that giving the accused bail could put his life at risk since the public is still angry.
State Counsel Orateng Ramoabi also pleaded with the court to remand the accused in custody since the investigations are at preliminary stage therefore if given bail the accused could interfere with investigations. He added that the accused may conceal some evidence that the state has.
Mothaedi however told the court that he doesn’t know anything about the two witnesses who are reported to have fled to Francistown in fear of him and that he has nothing to do with them since the matter was between him and his deceased girlfriend. Mothaedi pleaded with the court to give him a chance to go for a medical check-up since he was not feeling well and also requested to be taken for counselling.
In his ruling, Magistrate Thabang Chokwe said that looking at all the reasons brought by the state before court and the seriousness of the offence it would be inappropriate to give the accused person bail. Chokwe has ordered that the accused person be taken for blood pressure test and counselling. He adjourned the matter to the 30th October 2023 for status update.
