Man blames alcohol for reckless behaviour

Nnasaretha Kgamanyane | Tuesday April 15, 2014 12:50

 

Matseba Mosetlhe of Tlokweng appeared before the court after insulting and threatening to stab Malebogo Modiseng, a shop assistant at a Chinese shop in Bontleng.

The court learnt that Mosetlhe who was drunk on April 7, 2014 went to the shop where the complainant works, insisting to be sold a cigarette. He was told by Modiseng that the shop does not sell cigarettes, but started an argument and demanded to talk to the Chinese superiors.

 Mosetlhe is said to have gotten angry, started insulting Modiseng and threatened to stab her in the stomach with a knife. He went out of the shop fuming and returned with another man whom he told that the shop assistant had offended him.

He continued uttering insults and threatening Modiseng, who left and reported the matter to Urban Police Station. Police officers then responded and arrested Mosetlhe.

In his defence, Mosetlhe said he did not commit the offence intentionally as he was under the influence of alcohol. He pleaded not guilty to the charge saying that alcohol was responsible for his unpleasant behaviour. He also requested to be tried at a magistrate’s court.

However, court president, Monametsi told the accused that if he did not plead guilty, he would be taken back to the cells to await trial at the magistrate’s court.

The accused then changed his mind and pleaded guilty even though he insisted that he was well mannered and that the alcohol was to blame for his conduct.

In mitigation, Mosetlhe pleaded with the court to be lenient on him and give him a light sentence as he was taking care of two children. He vowed never to commit the offence again.

The accused, who is a barber, also told the court that a jail sentence would interfere with his studies.

Monametsi told him that any person committing the offense he was accused of is liable to a year imprisonment and five strokes or a fine. He however accepted Mosetlhe’s mitigation and slapped him with a P150 fine and a suspended one-year jail term.

Mosetlhe was ordered to pay the fine by April 30, 2014 and failure to comply would earn him three months in jail.