Africa-Press – Lesotho. In an emotionally charged atmosphere at the High Court, the killers of Thibello Nteso were sentenced to jail after being found guilty of murdering him on Wednesday.
They are charged with crimes of murder and malicious damage to property. The murder accused are former members of Lesotho Mounted Police Service (LMPS) Police Constables Moeketsi Dlamini and Monaheng
‘Musi whom the court has sentenced to prison for a period of 20 years without
an option of fine. During sentencing there were cries at the gallery which the Informative Newspaper could not immediately verify if they were the accused spouses
or next of kins. The deceased is a former Lesotho Electricity Company (LEC) Head of Internal Audit. He is alleged to have lost his life after succumbing to the shooting at Maseru West near the official
residence of former Commissioner of Police Molahlehi Letsoepa on February 6, 2017. “It is alleged that the accused on the date mentioned [February 6, 2017], at or near Maseru West in the district of Maseru,
sharing a common or intention to pursue an unlawful act together and in pursuant of such act, did perform an unlawful act or omission with the intention of causing death of Thibello Nteso, that the said accused did commit the
offence of murder of the said [deceased] such death resulting from their act or omission. “In respect of Count 2, it is alleged that the said accused [Dlamini and ‘Musi] on the date and place mentioned above,
sharing a common purpose or intention to pursue an unlawful act together and in the pursuit of such act did without lawful excuse shoot with intention of
damaging the car, Mercedes Benz Maroon in colour singly or jointly owned or possessed by Thibello Nteso and thereby commit the offence of malicious damage
to property,” reads the judgement in pertinent part. Sentencing the murder accused, Judge Moroke Mokhesi said the court had considered the “seriousness” of this crime given
that the duo were Police officers. “The offence was committed by law enforcement officers in circumstances, which quite frankly were unwarranted,” said Justice
Mokhesi. During the trial Dlamini and ‘Musi said they had shot the deceased in “self-defence. ” Rebutting their defence the court found that the deceased was “not a threat to them”.
Judge Mokhesi said, “the deceased’s only crime was ignoring the accused’s unlawful orders for him not to access his car. ” He further noted: “the circumstances of
this case are disturbing and disheartening. The deceased had parked his vehicle next to the duty station [of the accused] without blocking entrance thereto.
It was only accused’s unwarranted sense of nervousness and a feeling of insecurity that led to their callous acts. It was unwarranted because they were fully
armed and could have easily defended themselves against an attack, but they allowed themselves to act amateurishly … their feeble attempts at creating an
impression that they acted in self-defence is not borne out by evidence. The impact this callous murder must have had and continues to have on the deceased’s young family is immeasurable.
It is not an insignificant thing to lose one’s parent at this age and in circumstances such as of this case. A deep emotional scar this murder should have had on the
deceased ‘s wife and children and his immediate family is bound to last for a considerable time. ” The duo forfeited their bail on December 7 last year after the court had found them guilty and they were then send to the
Maseru Correctional Facility where they were awaiting their sentencing. Prior to handing down of the judgement also last year, the crown requested the Judge to defer the judgement owing to the new
developments that had then came to the fore at eleventh hour, a move which the Judge did not take kindly, terming such move as “unprofessional” and ”inconveniencing”.
Then the crown said that there is evidence which was “suppressed” and such unnamed witness was threatened to “withhold” some information. However, such “witness” did not make an appearance.
Reacting to the sentencing, deceased’s brother, Tankiso Nteso expressed mixed feelings in an interview with Informative Newspaper as the deceased spouse was a sombre emotional wreck who could
not talk to our publication. “We don’t know whether to celebrate or be angry,” he said. He however expressed gratitude that justice has “finally been realised,” adding that even if they were to be given 100
years jail time it would not have “brought back” their brother. Nteso added: “We are grateful that they got what they deserved and are in place that befit
them. ” The accused’s lawyer Advocate Lebohang Ramakhula told this publication that he is yet to take instructions from his client when asked if they will appeal the sentence. The crown was represented by Advocate Naki Nku.
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