Suspended sentence for man who intimidated lover while drunk on khadi
A Tonota man who admitted using ‘intimidating words’ in a drunken tirade against his girlfriend has been spared jail after Francistown Magistrates Court saw fit to hand him a suspended sentence.
Thirty-seven-year-old Barebontshitse Kesaletseng blamed his bad behavior on traditional beer, telling the court he was heavily intoxicated and acted out of character when threatening his woman.
“I was drunk. I was drinking khadi made of mogwana and uttered those words. I plead for forgiveness,” begged Kesaletseng.
Following his arrest last week Monday, the suspect was hauled before the Magistrates four days later, where he immediately confessed to scaring Gaolathe Sekuta with his words.
“O tla felela mo tseleng, tsatsi jeno ga ke robale mme ke robala mo sethareng. Tsatsi jeno kea go tla ke golotse pelo ebe ke dira se ke se batlang ebe ke ineela setlhare (You will end up on the road. Today I am not sleeping; I will sleep on the tree. Today I am coming with a bold heart and do what I want to do and then hang myself,)” is the heated statement that landed him in hot water with the police.
Because of the ambiguous nature of his declaration, the suspect was charged with ‘intimidation’ rather than threat to kill.
Having spent the weekend behind bars on remand, he returned to court on Monday, promising never to make the same mistake again.
“I plan to stay far away from women as they will end up landing me in deep trouble,” Kesaletseng, who works as a herdboy, told the Magistrate during mitigation.
Sentenced to three years imprisonment, he breathed a huge sigh of relief when the court informed him the punishment was wholly suspended for three years – meaning he will not serve any more jail time, providing he does not reoffend.
