Setlaampoloka murder trial set to start

ISAIAH MOREWAGAE
Staff Writer | Tuesday May 14, 2013 00:00

The case has been the subject of much speculation because it has yet to be prosecuted two years after it was committed to the High Court. The defendants in the case are Ranto Mmeleki, Tebogo Khutsafalo, Kabo Moffat Ramohibidu, Michael Ramhitshwana, Dithuso Dintwe and Patrick Gobotswang, all police officers. They have been out on bail since their committal to trial at the High Court two years ago. The officers are all charged with the murder of Setlaampoloka in Mogoditshane on or about July 29, 2009 and giving false information to the effect that the deceased had escaped from their custody at Gabane and committed suicide at Samokala farmlands. This information caused the police to open an inquest docket.

Gobotswang is further charged with destroying evidence after allegations emerged that he had burnt a plastic and a tyre tube that was used to torture the deceased.  Alongside Mmeleki, Khutsafalo and Dintwe, he faces another charge of unlawful disposal of the deceased's body on July 29, 2009 at the Seakale farmlands in the Kweneng District.