Tefo Tefo
MASERU — A murder case was last week postponed because one of the suspects was not available because had joined an initiation school.
High Court judge Nthomeng Majara postponed the case to April next year.
Masilo Leseli is among 18 men of Makhalaneng Ha-Lekota in rural Maseru who are facing murder charges in the High Court.
They are accused of killing Moeketsi Mokhethi in the same area two years ago.
But the case did not proceed on Thursday because Leseli had gone to an initiation school a month before the hearing of the case started.
“Masilo is not present because he has gone to the initiation school,” Leseli’s co-accused told the court.
“We are not even sure when he will be available because they might be released in January or February.”
The crown counsel, Mashapha Letsie, told the High Court that he could not prosecute the case because he wanted all the accused persons to be present during the proceedings.
“My lady I suggest that the case be postponed until Leseli is available,” Letsie said.
Seven of the accused are also facing a second count of murder.
They are accused of killing Tsotang Leseli in the same year in the same area.
Details of how the two were killed have not yet been disclosed in court because the evidence has not been tendered.
Although the case has been postponed to next April it will only be heard at a later date.
“The case is postponed to April for mention,” Justice Majara ordered.
All the accused persons are represented by Advocate Tséliso Fosa.
The judge also warned the accused persons to attend court proceedings whenever they are summoned.
She said if they did not honour her warning they would be locked up in prison.
“If any one of you is absent during the trial you will all suffer consequences,” she said.
“I will send you to prison so that you could be available whenever the court requires you.”
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