Moorosi Tsiane
THE attempted murder trial of former army commander, Tlali Kamoli, has stalled after trial Judge, Charles Hungwe, deferred proceedings due to a family bereavement.
Justice Hungwe informed the court on Friday morning that he would be unavailable to continue with the case because he had to attend a funeral back home in Zimbabwe.
Kamoli stands trial alongside eight other soldiers for the simultaneous bombing of then Police Commissioner Khothatso Tšooana’s residence and former First Lady ‘Maesaiah Thabane’s home in Moshoeshoe II on the morning of 27 January 2014.
The matter, which had been running since 14 April 2025, was scheduled to continue until 2 May 2025.
However, Justice Hungwe announced that he would be unavailable until 1 May 2025, and therefore postponed the matter to 2 May.
“Counsels, I will not be able to proceed until 2 May 2025 because I have a family bereavement to attend to. Unfortunately, you will have to come back on 2 May 2025,” said Justice Hungwe.
“I have already discussed the matter with Chief Justice (Sakoane Sakoane), and he granted me leave to attend to the bereavement.”
Among those who have testified since last week are Ms Thabane’s son, Victor Ferreira, and Dr Tšooana’s son, Thuto Tšooana.
The two shared their equally harrowing experiences of that horrific morning.
Then just 11 years old, Ferreira was seriously injured when soldiers allegedly acting under Kamoli’s command bombed his Moshoeshoe II home. He was hospitalised for four days after sustaining a heavily bleeding leg wound.
Ferreira was testifying as the 12th?state?witness in the?case.?