Three-count attempted murder accused denied bail

Gofaone Mapugwa | Tuesday June 4, 2019 14:33

 

The accused, Mbakiso Bhusumane, 38, had through his attorney Chakalisa Gunda made an application to be released on bail before Chief Magistrate Faith Dlamini-Ngandu. 

The state alleges that Gunda attempted to murder

Lorato Motlhanka, Gosaitse Sebokolodi and Boikanyo Sebokolodi on May 8, 2019. 

Among Bhusumane’s victims is a one-year-old baby.

All the three victims are still recuperating. 

Giving reasons why the accused should not be granted bail, the investigating officer Kgomotso Peter said investigations into the matter are not yet complete. 

Peter stated that the victims have sustained bullet wounds adding that a medical report detailing the extent of the victims’ injuries has not yet been complete. 

He continued: “The victims have just been released from the hospital and if the accused is granted bail, he may complete his mission to kill them.” 

However, Gunda tried without success to obtain bail for his client.

He stated that the investigating officer has not provided any concrete evidence before court to demonstrate why the accused should not be granted bail. 

According to Gunda, the evidence that the investigating officer furnished the court with was just based on his unsubstantiated feelings and assumptions. 

Gunda also added that the country’s constitution provides that a person should be presumed innocent until proven otherwise hence he prayed with the court to grant Bhusumane bail. 

The prosecutor Koziba Nthanga reiterated that Bhusumane should be remanded in custody since the matter was still relatively fresh. 

She also mentioned that it would be for the benefit of the accused and victims to psychologically come to terms with what had transpired. 

When delivering her ruling, Dlamini-Ngandu said: “I have also taken into consideration the fact that there hasn’t been any medical report provided, therefore the accused will not be granted bail”. 

She added that since the victims are still convalescing (from the gunshot wounds), it is not certain that they would recover and the worst may happen which may lead the accused to face more serious charges of murder. 

The accused will appear in court again on June 28 when it is expected that the victims’ medical reports would be produced before court and for possible further consideration of the accused’s bail.