Francistown Magistrate Court has once again denied bail a 54-year-old teacher at Mpiti Primary School in Matobo, Ruth Fana and her daughter Onnalenna Fana (35) charged with the murder of 73-year-old grandmother, Elicar Fana in Makobo five weeks ago.
In their court appearance on Tuesday, the duo who are mother and daughter were further charged with robbing the grandmother of her two cell phones worth P 3 300. Onnalenna, a mother of two is also likely to be charged with child neglect, after police established that her 11-year-old sickly daughter was being denied medical attention.
Giving evidence before Principal Magistrate Thapelo Buang, Inspector Kenneth Zibotjwa said investigations into the case were not yet complete, as key witnesses were still undergoing counselling and were too traumatised to record statements.
“One of key witnesses is the brother to Ruth Fana, he is still undergoing counselling. There are also minor children involved, being Onnalenna’s children aged 17 and 11 who are also getting counselling and too traumatised to give statements at the moment. They are potential witnesses and we expect their counselling to take two months, only then will they be ready mentally to be interviewed,” explained the investigating officer.
The state objected for the suspects to be granted bail at the moment arguing that they are likely to interfere with investigations because some of the witnesses are staying at Makobo and Matobo. Zibotjwa feared that the accused are also likely to intimidate or harass potential witnesses particularly the children.
Zibotjwa also said tempers were still high among family members and residents of Makobo and Matobo.
“Currently Onnalenna’s children are under the custody of social welfare. None of the relatives of the accused persons were ready and willing to taking the children including Onnalenna’s uncle, who is the younger brother to the first accused.”
The investigating officer also alluded that there were allegations by the suspects that 73-year-old Elicar was bewitching them and was the one causing Onnalenna’s daughter ill health. At the time of the old woman’s demise, the suspects were visiting traditional doctors and prophets to break the spell of the now deceased granny.
Ruth and her daughter failed to convince the court to grant them bail, despite her indicating that she was already granted a transfer letter to teach in some schools in Letlhakane. The suspects return to court on the 18th of next month.
Elicar Fana who is the mother and grandmother to the two suspects respectively, was found dead with deep wounds on her head and body. The body of elderly woman was found motionless in her yard, on the cold morning of the 9th of June.
