Suspect in guard murder arrested

Lebogang Mosikare | Tuesday November 3, 2015 16:18

 

The state alleges that Mbakiso Makhakhe killed Dilo Makgasana, 46, at Kami complex near the Francistown bus and taxi rank between October 24 and 25.

Police said that the man was found tied on both legs and hands and showing no signs of life. “When we arrived at the scene, we took the man to Nyangabwe Referral Hospital where he was certified dead,” Inspector Mengistu Chigala told the court.

The prosecution also said that the culprit(s) who killed the man broke into the Cell Investment company office caravan and stole money amounting to P100,000. He added that they also stole Orange, Mascom, beMobile and BTC airtime cards worth over P200,000.

However, the state did not include a charge of robbery when Makhakhe appeared in court on Monday, save to say that their investigations are still ongoing.

Chigala applied for charges against the accused to be read and his plea reserved because investigations into the matter are still at the initial stages. Chigala also told the court that they had recently arrested another suspect in connection with the matter, who was not before court. “We apply that the accused be remanded in custody. He is alleged to have committed a very serious crime which attracts a maximum penalty of capital punishment when found guilty,” said Chigala.

Makhakhe said he had nothing to say in reply for his remand in jail.

Principal Magistrate Dumisani Basupi remanded Makhakhe in jail. He will appear in court on November 16 for mention.

Meanwhile, Principal Magistrate Sijabuliso Siziba referred a 32-year-old man who was convicted of raping a three-year-old girl to the High Court for sentencing. Bruno Mohamadi was found guilty of raping the minor at Block 3 in 2009. “This court has no powers to sentence you beyond the minimum statutory sentence of 10 years in jail. I found no exceptional extenuating circumstances that may have led you to commit the offence. You shall therefore be referred to the High Court for sentence,” said Siziba. The accused’s attorney, Morris Ndawana, concurred with Siziba. He added that he was just instructed in the morning to represent the accused. “The prosecution relies on the evidence of the complainant’s mother who is a police officer.

She said that she knew the accused since they are neighbours. She said you put ‘gogo’ meaning your manhood in her child’s private parts. The doctor also said that the victim was penetrated after he examined her,” said Siziba previously in his judgement. Siziba added that the complainant’s mother discovered that something was wrong with her child after she developed difficulties in walking.