There were tragic tears shed over spilt chibuku on Wednesday morning, when a 16-year-old allegedly stabbed a man to death in a drunken dispute over ‘shake shake’ and a cellphone.
The bloody incident occurred at around midnight near Sesanankgopa lands on the outskirts of Thamaga village in the Kweneng District.
It is believed the deceased, aged 25, provoked his killer, demanding his phone, which he had lent the teenager, and also accusing the youngster of spilling his chibuku.
With alcohol dulling both their senses, the dispute quickly turned physical, the young suspect apparently stabbing the older man in the collarbone before fleeing into the night.
According to the police, the duo and two others – the suspect’s older brother and a close friend – had been drinking together earlier in the evening.
The trouble started as the group made their way to nearby Ramakgatlanyana, travelling via donkey cart.
After crossing the Molepolole/Thamaga road, the deceased reportedly pulled the boy from the cart; they remained behind while the other two continued with the journey.
“When the two men realised their companions were not coming, another decided to go back to investigate what could have delayed them. Unfortunately he found the other man lying down in a pool of blood, some oozing from the neck,” revealed Thamaga Station Commander, Moses Kwarare.
With the teen nowhere to be found, the duo took their injured friend to Thamaga Police, where he was rushed to hospital. Unfortunately, it was too late to save him and he was confirmed dead shortly after arrival.
The suspect, meanwhile, was arrested a few hours later.
Brought before Molepolole Magistrates Court on Thursday, the teen was remanded in custody pending his arraignment.
Court saw fit to adjourn the matter, advising the prosecution to inform the attorneys at Legal Aid Botswana who avail services for minor children.
Due back in court on 4 August when the charge sheet will be read to him, the youngster will remain at Ikago Rehabilitation Centre in Molepolole for at least a month.
In another sad twist to an already depressing story, although the suspect’s relatives turned up at court to support their loved one, they arrived a little too late, as the lad had already been taken away.
It is reported the boy, who cannot be named because of his age, was raised by his grandmother as his mother is late.
