Sedudu Sporting Club soccer player’s alleged killer, 29-year old Stanley Banda has been denied bail by the Kasane Magistrate’s Court.
Banda is accused of killing Sedudu Sporting Club soccer player Kago Basupi and stabbing his ex-girlfriend Keamogetse Kamwi with a knife in Kazungula, Newstance ward on the 12th June 2023.
Opposing the accused’s bail application, the investigating officer, Jakahama Seleka told court that he has not yet recorded the statement from Kamwi who is currently hospitalised at Kasane Primary Hospital and from her brother.
He pleaded that the two key witnesses should be taken for psychological counselling as they are still distressed. Seleka highlighted that whenever they mention the name of the accused, Kamwi creaks down, an indication that she is still in pain and fear.
He also revealed that Banda has a case of rape at Francistown Police that was recorded in 2019 and that the investigating officer of the case was not aware that he in Kazungula.
“The accused person had another case of unlawful wounding in 2020 at Francistown Police where he stabbed his girlfriend, however the victim withdrew the case,” Seleka further revealed.
He added that the accused has another case in Kazungula Police station recorded this year where he assaulted the same victim, Kamwi. He pleaded for the accused person to be removed from the community as he is a very dangerous man and that they want to safeguard the safety of the witnesses who are living in fear of him. The IO argued that giving Banda bail may also delay their investigations.
Prosecutor Gaone Miller also added that murder is a serious offence and that the accused person shares the same fence with the victims therefore he should be remanded in custody.
In his argument, the accused claimed that he was not aware of the other cases mentioned by the investigating officer. He pleaded with the court to grant him bail as he is not a resident of Kazungula indicating that if given bail he will go back to his home village.
In her bail ruling, Kasane Senior Magistrate Kose Makobo Magistrate concluded that the accused was not a suitable candidate for bail because he has shown traits of violence. She fears that the accused may continue with his violent behaviour if granted bail and may also interfere with the investigations.
Makobo also noted that since the accused reportedly sharing the same fence with the witnesses, that may pose a risk to their safety. She also ruled that the witnesses be taken for psychological counselling.
It is alleged that the accused person on the 12th June 2023 went to his 27-year old ex-girlfriend’s house where he found her with the 37-year old Basupi. He is alleged to have then stabbed the deceased with a knife on the bicep who thereafter ran for his life.
Basupi was later found lying unconsciously on the ground by the police who traced his blood drops. The accused is reported to have also stabbed his ex-girlfriend on the left side of the ribs and she is currently admitted at Kasane Primary Hospital.
