Picture: The bodies of two police officers were found at the back of a burnt police vehicle/Supplied
By OBAKENG MAJE
A trial in a double murder case against four men who allegedly killed two policemen in Ganyesa village, near Vryburg has been postponed to 24 July 2023 by the North West High Court in Mahikeng.
The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) spokesperson in North West, Henry Mamothame said the trial was set to start from 13 to 17 March 2023, however, the matter had to be rolled over on the first day to allow some defense attorneys to make final consultations with their clients.
Mamothame said, on 15 March 2023, the defense attorneys submitted a guilty plea proposal to the state, which was ultimately rejected as it was deemed not to be in the interest of justice.
“This resulted in a new date being agreed upon by the court and all parties involved. The court sitting was declared a juvenile court, owing to the age of the 16-year-old accused, who is also standing trial in this matter.
“Benjamin Jacobs (42), Jeremiah Mongale (26), Rapulana Keikantse (25), Matthews Modukane (20), and a 16-year-old boy, are charged with the murder of Constable Simon Ngakaemang Ntsekeletsa (50) and Sergeant Mojalefa Horatius Molete (42),” he said.
Mamothame further said, the accused are facing charges of malicious damage to property, robbery with aggravating circumstances, possession of ammunition, possession of a semi-automatic firearm, kidnapping, possession of ammunition with intent to commit an offense, and defeating the ends of justice.
He added that, a 16-year-old minor was granted R1000 bail in October 2021 and was left under the supervision of a guardian.
Meanwhile, the other four accused were denied bail and will remain in police custody until the matter is completed. According to the police report, the two deceased officers attended a stock theft incident in Mareetsane, however, the pair failed to return to the station and were declared missing.
A search operation was subsequently conducted and their remains were later discovered at the back of their burnt state vehicle on 27 July 2021 in Ganyesa. Upon arrest, police discovered the deceased’s firearm, two cell phones as well as SIM cards that were destroyed and thrown in a pit toilet at the home of one of the accused.
The Guardian 