By OBAKENG MAJE
A murder case against a man (24), who allegedly killed a nurse at Ipelegeng Township, near Schweizer Reneke back in 2022, has been postponed until Tuesday. This comes after Bongane Gregory Shebi, who was represented by the legal aid lawyer, opted to hire his own private lawyer.
The magistrate gave the accused time to appoint and engage with his own legal team, before the case could resume. Shebi is facing a charge of murder and robbery after he allegedly killed Iris Mamotlakana Mohokare in cold-blood at her rented home in Ipeleng Township, near Schweizer Reneke on 12 October 2022.
The then National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) regional spokesperson in North West, Henry Mamothame said, Mohokare’s bloodied body was discovered by her landlord on 13 October 2022, with her throat cut open.
Mamothame further said the landlord subsequently informed the police, who immediately started investigating the cause of her death.
“The accused became a person of interest after police received information, while doing investigations, that he was spotted not far from where the incident took place, walking with bloodied clothes. A search for him ensued and he was ultimately arrested on 15 October 2022.
“Upon arrival at the police station, Shebi informed the police of his intention to confess. He was subsequently taken in for a confession to be obtained and later took the police to point out where he had thrown away the bloodied clothes he was wearing,” he said.
Mamothame added that the accused alleged he was in the company of another person, but the motive only became clear in the accused person’s confession, that he and another person intended to rob the deceased. He said Shebi alleged that he is not the one who stabbed the deceased, but it was the person whom he was with.
“The police have indicated that, evidence obtained at the scene, indicated that only one person was at the scene at the time of the commissioning of this offence. Investigations have been completed and the state is ready to proceed with trial.
“Meanwhile, Shebi will remain in police custody until the completion of his trial after his bail application was rejected. During the pre-trial conference, the state and the defence attorney confirmed that consultations were completed and all the necessary documents were provided by the state,” said Mamothame.
TaungDailyNews 