Nthatuoa Koeshe
Maseru
A MOTHER of three from Ha-Mabote in Maseru was found dead near Durham Link on 9 June, a day after her youngest child died from ingesting food the mother had laced with poison.
The woman allegedly poisoned her two children before locking them inside her house. The children were later rescued by neighbours who heard them crying. The neighbours immediately called their father who was at work at the time after noticing that the children were all sickly but could not locate the mother.
The police said the older child, a four-year-old boy survived the poisoning which claimed the life of his one year and six months old sibling who died on the way to hospital.
Senior Police Inspector Rantoane Motsoetla said the older child is still admitted at ‘Mamohato Memorial Hospital.
Snr Insp Motsoetla said the surviving child told the police that their mother gave them a fine powder which looked like powdered milk.
He urged parents to find better ways of resolving their problems instead killing their children.
In an unrelated matter, a 17-year-old Maseru boy was on 11 June arrested after killing his 59-year-old father.
Snr Insp Motsoetla said the boy had visited his mother, who recently left her marital home due to a fight with her husband.
The now deceased man allegedly also had a fight with his son on 10 June 2019 and attempted to strike him with a sword but he escaped to his uncle’s home.
The father is said to have threatened that between himself and his son one would die before the end of the fateful day.
However, on the following day, the son allegedly found his father sitting with his other children and reached out for a hammer and struck him until he died.
He was arrested on the same day but was later released because of his age.
In another matter, a 39-year-old man, Molefi Sekoka, from Borokhoaneng, in Maseru was on 11 June 2019 released on M500 bail by the Maseru Magistrates’ Court where he had appeared on vehicle theft charges.
Police said Mr Sekoka stole a Toyota Quantum in neighbouring South Africa on an unknown date.
Mr Sekoka is expected back in court on 9 July 2019 for trial.
In an unrelated matter, Lebohang Mokhele (39) from Ha-Tsolo was on 14 June remanded in custody after he had appeared before the Maseru Magistrates’ Court facing charges of armed robbery.
Mr Mokhele was arrested on 12 June for allegedly robbing a businessman of Chinese origin of M2 006 000 in May this year.
The police said when Mr Mokhele was arrested only M27 000 was recovered.
The court ordered Mr Mokhele to return to court today.
Thaba Tseka
A 29-year-old Matebeleng Ha-Nkofo was on 17 June 2019 arrested for allegedly murdering his 17-year-old pregnant wife.
The police say allegedly locked himself along with his now deceased wife in the house and beat her severely beat her up on the 16th of June.
The community rushed to assist the wife but were forced to break in after finding the doors locked from inside. They however, broke in and stopped the beating and took the wife to hospital but she died from the injuries sustained in the savage beating on the way.
The man is still assisting the police with investigations and will appear in court once they have completed.