Man Denies Assaulting Mother-of-Four
Although he admits someone beat his long-time girlfriend to a bloody pulp, Tshepang Motswagole insists it wasn’t him.
The 40-year-old Mmadinare native was dragged before Francistown Magistrates Court on Monday, where he was hit with a single count of assault occasioning actual bodily harm.
In a suspected case of domestic abuse, Motswagole is accused of beating up the mother of his four children, Obopilwe Ate, on Friday night, allegedly punching her several times, causing injury to her face and right middle finger.
The brutal assault took place in Patayamatebele village’s Sesigo ward, where the couple reside at Ate’s place.
Pleading his innocence, Motswagole, who was arrested the morning after the incident, maintained he did not touch the complainant.
“She left me where we were drinking and got assaulted; I swear I did not assault her. I plead that I be granted bail because I am a sickly person of back pains and I am scared I won’t receive proper medication in prison,” said the suspected woman-beater.
Continuing his quest to be released, Motswagole added, “The other thing your worship, I have four children with this woman and I am the one taking care of them. By sending me to prison no one will look after them.”
He also assured court he would not interfere with the police’s investigations, promising to move back to his home village.
Despite his best efforts, Motswagole’s hopes of immediate freedom were dashed, with court seeing fit to remand him behind bars for now. The accused returns to court on 4 August, when he will no doubt seek freedom again.
