…as Judge Mokoko wants public on the dangers of online dating

Moorosi Tsiane

FACEBOOK serial killer, Lehohonolo Masoleng, will spend the rest of his life behind bars after High Court Judge, Tšeliso Mokoko, handed him a life sentence for the 2024 murders of three women.

Justice Mokoko handed down the sentence on Friday after convicting Masoleng, of Braakfontein, Mohale’s Hoek, on Monday, on three counts of murder.

His victims were Kefuoe Moretlo of Mohale’s Hoek, Maletsema Foka of Nazareth in Maseru, and Matšepo Likotsi of Mapoteng, Berea.

Masoleng committed the killings between February and April 2024.

According to evidence led before the court by Crown Counsel, Advocate (Adv) Lehlanako Mofilikoane, Masoleng lured his victims by courting them on Facebook and enticing them to visit him.

In his confession, submitted as part of the evidence, Masoleng admitted before the Mohale’s Hoek Magistrate’s Court that the three women were his girlfriends. He said he would have sex with them, then strike them at the back of the head with a stone before burying their bodies.

The Crown called seven witnesses and submitted three post-mortem reports, all of which confirmed that the cause of death in each case was subdural bleeding in the brain — consistent with being struck on the back of the head with a stone.

Delivering his sentence, Justice Mokoko emphasised that the murders were premeditated and that Masoleng deserved severe punishment to deter others.

“The court has considered that these murders were premeditated. The three victims were his girlfriends, and he invited them after rehearsing a plan to execute his mission. Their killing was very brutal. His modus operandi was the same with all three victims.
“They were brutally and mercilessly murdered and buried in shallow graves to conceal their deaths so that they would never be found,” said Justice Mokoko.

The judge said it was beyond his comprehension why Masoleng would lure the women, have sex with them, and then kill them.

“The court has found that he called them to have sex with them and kill them afterward. It is beyond this court’s understanding why he decided to kill them in such a manner. This matter suggests he needs intensive counselling, which will be provided at the correctional services facilities.

“This court cannot imagine the pain the families of the three deceased were put through when the police handed over the decomposed bodies of their loved ones. The families were denied the chance to mourn properly.

“Kefuoe’s family never got to bury her as her body could not be exhumed because her family lacked the means to ferry the body. Matšepo, on the other hand, left behind a five-year-old child who has now been denied motherly love.”

The no-nonsense judge condemned gender-based violence, warning perpetrators of severe consequences.

“This court upholds the sanctity of human life because it is a gift from God and no one has the right to take it, especially in such a manner. The court has noted the public outcry over the killing of women. People have vested their trust in the courts to impose punishments that will deter these inhuman acts.

“To restore public confidence in the judicial system, the court must impose strict punishments on those who do not value life.”

Justice Mokoko also said the case should serve as a warning to women to exercise extreme caution when communicating with strangers on social media.

He said the appropriate punishment for the “barbaric acts” was life imprisonment on each of the three counts, with the sentences running concurrently.

“This court concludes the appropriate sentence is the following: The accused is sentenced to life imprisonment on all three counts of murder, and the sentences will run concurrently,” said Justice Mokoko.