- Case postponed to March 18th
The sentencing of a 54-year-old Maun man convicted for raping his daughter and for the unlawful wounding of his wife has been postponed to next month after his lawyer failed to appear in court this week.
The man whose identity has been withheld for the protection of the victims was convicted on two serious counts of rape and unlawful wounding, stemming from incidents that allegedly took place in 2023.
According to court records, on the first count, it is said that between July 24, 2023 and September 16, 2023, at or near Senonnori Ward in Maun, in the North West Administrative District, the convict had unlawful carnal knowledge of his daughter without her consent.
On the second case, he faced a charge of unlawful wounding in which it is alleged that on October 7, 2023, at or near Sexaxa Ward in Maun, he unlawfully wounded his wife, the mother of the rape victim. He reportedly stabbed her with a sharp instrument, inflicting a wound on the right side of the neck. The convict reportedly attacked the wife as it is said that she was the one who reported the rape matter to the police.
When given an opportunity to address the court on Monday, the 54-year-old man stated that he was not ready to proceed with sentencing. He told the court that he had engaged a lawyer who had thought that the sentencing date was February 26 instead of February 23. He said this misunderstanding was the reason why his attorney did not appear in court to represent him.
Magistrate Gofaone Mosweu acknowledged the explanation and noted that the matter could not proceed without legal representation and the case was postponed. She further revealed that the accused’s HIV/AIDS test results had been received and would form part of the considerations in determining an appropriate sentence.
The postponement has delayed what many observers described as a crucial moment in a case that has drawn strong emotions due to the gravity of the charges and the relationship between the convicted man and the complainants.
Magistrate Mosweu postponed the sentencing to March 18, 2026, when the court is expected to deliver its sentence, while the accused remains in custody awaiting the final determination of his sentence.
