Forensic report a mountain too high for DPP

VICTOR MUYAKWABO
Staff Writer | Tuesday January 8, 2013 00:00

 

Since the case was reported late last year the Forensic Department has not yet provided the Directorate Public Prosecutions with the forensic report. However, state prosecutor Khumoetsile Tirelo told the court that they are determined to have the accused person committed before the High Court by February this year. She said if they receive the report by the end of the month they will be in a position to serve the defence counsel with a summary of the case.  Tirelo told the court that the state is about to complete its investigations. Meanwhile Masilo's attorney Samantha Mbikiwa requested that the prosecution provide them with available documents while they are still waiting for the forensic report, if it is not availed in the next mention. The prosecution did not heed this request.

In other counts that the accused person is facing before the same court, the prosecution and the defence counsel agreed to postpone the case management conference to the next mention date on January 18th as Chief Magistrate Linah Oahile-Mokibe was not around.The prosecutor in another count that the accused is facing told the court that they are still waiting for the Investigation Officer's statement as they could not get it because he was on leave and is yet to report back to work. Kutlo Tsekane told the court that after receiving the Investigating Officer's statement they will be in a position to provide the defence counsel with the summary of the case.

Mbikiwa told the court that returning from the festive holidays is not an excuse as justice has to be served to both the accused person and society. She asked the prosecution to get the investigating Officer's statement by the next mention or they should bring the Officer to explain in person the difficulty he had in recording the statement.  Masilo will appear again for mention on January 18th.