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Jan. 10, 2023

COURT REPORTER

2 min read

Khetheng murder trial resumes on Jan 30

Khetheng murder trial resumes on Jan 30

Police Constable Mokalekale Khetheng

Story highlights

    Witness claims he had no idea who the deceased was
    Absent lawyer disrupts proceedings of the marathon trial

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THE four police officers charged with the 2016 murder of their colleague, Police Constable (PC) Mokalekale Khetheng will return to the High Court on January 30 for the marathon trial to continue.

This, after the matter, was postponed on November 28, 2022, because the defence lawyer was unavailable for some unclear reasons.

The case had previously been rescheduled because the presiding judge had also not been available.

Senior Superintendent Thabo Tšukulu is charged along with his three subordinates; Senior Inspector Mabitle Matona, Sub Inspector Haleokoe Taasoane, and Inspector Mothibeli Mofolo for Khetheng’s murder on May 26, 2016.

The four were arrested on August 4, 2016, and hauled before the Maseru Magistrate’s Court four days later where they were remanded in custody.

They were later denied bail by the High Court.

Khetheng was arrested by his colleagues at a traditional feast in his home village of Sebothoane in Leribe on March 25, 2016, and was charged on allegations that he burned the house of his commanding officer in Mokhotlong where he was deployed.

Tšukulu commanded the Leribe police and his three co-accused served under him.

All accused have denied any wrongdoing.
After his strange arrest, Khetheng disappeared from the Hlotse police station but a police witness later told the court that he could have been abducted, implicating some police officers including the four accused and some soldiers.

His body was later exhumed at the Lepereng cemetery in Maseru on August 11, 2017.
When the trial resumes on January 30, Detective Lance Sergeant Bokang Jane who was stationed at Ha Mokhalinyane Police Station in 2016 where the murder allegedly occurred is expected to continue testifying.

In his previous testimony, Jane said he attended the scene of crime on March 27, 2016, in Ha Mokhalinyane on the outskirts of Maseru, where Khetheng’s body was found.

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At the time, Jane said he had no idea who the dead man was.

 He attended the deceased’s post-mortem on June 3, 2016, the court also heard.

He claimed that he only discovered the identity of the deceased later when investigations into the case were taken over by a team from the police headquarters in Maseru. Former Police Commissioner Molahlehi Letsoepa who is still on the run was also charged with the murder.

Deputy leader of the Lesotho Congress for Democracy (LCD), Tšeliso Mokhosi, was also implicated in the murder.

After his subsequent arrest, Mokhosi who is also a former Cabinet Minister was allegedly assaulted by the police.

He was later discharged by the High Court.

The case continues before Justice Tšeliso Mokoko.

 

 

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