Kabelo Masoabi
THE High Court sitting in Leribe has found a Mokhotlong man guilty of culpable homicide after he admitted to killing a fellow villager in what the prosecution described as a revenge murder.
Khauta Liphapang, of Mpakatleng in Mokhotlong, is awaiting sentencing after pleading guilty to the culpable homicide of Sechaba Molahlehi. The offence occurred at Tlhanyaku in Mokhotlong on 22 March 2020. Acting Justice ’Manapo Motebele recorded the guilty plea and is expected to deliver sentence on 8 May 2026.
Through his lawyer, Advocate Motšoehli, Liphapang offered to compensate the deceased’s family with M60,000 to “raise the head of the deceased” as per local traditions. He told the court he intends to sell his cattle to raise the money, with assistance from relatives.
Had Liphapang not pleaded guilty, Crown witness Tholang Kao would have testified about events he said occurred on 22 March 2020. Kao told the court he was driving a taxi with two passengers when, near Lithoteng village, he saw three men engaged in what appeared to be mock stick fighting.
As the vehicle approached, one man fled. Kao said he then saw the remaining man—Liphapang —strike Molahlehi on the head with a stone before fleeing, leaving him lying on the ground.
Kao said he stopped to assist and found a stone on the deceased’s head, which he removed. He observed a stab wound under the right arm and another on the neck. He also testified that he saw what appeared to be brain matter coming from the deceased’s mouth. An Okapi knife with a broken handle was found lying next to the body.
After raising the alarm, people working in nearby fields arrived. Tšeliso Mokati pursued the accused on horseback, apprehended him, and brought him back to the scene. Kao then continued his journey as more people gathered and the suspect was restrained.
According to Detective Police Constable Lesesa statement, which was also read into the court record, a man identifying himself as Rapelang Molahlehi arrived at Mokhotlong Police Station carrying a battle stick on the same day. He alleged that Liphapang had used it to assault Molahlehi before stabbing him with a knife at Tlhanyaku.
Another officer, Detective Police Constable Litsebe, testified that he confiscated the brown Okapi knife believed to have been used in the attack. Both the stick and the knife were admitted as evidence.
According to the post-mortem report, the 34-year-old deceased sustained severe head injuries, including a skull fracture, a slit throat, a wound under the right armpit, and multiple scars across the body. Blood was also observed coming from the ears.
The prosecution told the court that Molahlehi, a cattle herder from Mpakatleng, was married and left behind a nine-year-old daughter.
In aggravation, the Crown argued that Liphapang carried out a revenge attack, believing the deceased had been involved in the assault of his cousin. The prosecution stressed that the accused had taken the law into his own hands, describing the killing as brutal and untimely.
The Crown urged the court to impose a deterrent sentence for those “who believe in revenge without facts being substantiated”. It also noted that the deceased was the fourth child and only son in a family of six, with both parents deceased, underscoring the loss of a male figure in the family.
In mitigation, Adv Motšoehli said Liphapang was remorseful and had saved the court’s time by pleading guilty. He added that his client had vowed not to reoffend.
The defence asked the court to consider a non-custodial sentence, proposing restorative justice through compensation. Liphapang has offered to pay M60,000 in monthly instalments of M5,000 from May 2022 to April 2027.
Justice Motebele thereafter reserved judgement to 8 May 2026.