David Holland, a 36-year-old British national, caused a commotion at the Francistown Magistrates Court on Wednesday when he threatened Botswana Press Agency (BOPA) journalist Thamani Shabani for filming him.
The outburst escalated as Holland, under heavy police escort, hurled profanities at Shabani and attempted to chase him down.
The officers however, managed to restrain him before the situation worsened.
Holland, who was arrested a day before for absconding court since April last year, appeared before Principal Magistrate Tshepo Magetse yesterday and was denied bail.
He now faces five charges, including assault and making threats to kill.
On the first count of common assault, Holland allegedly slapped his wife on her face on the 20th of April last year.
On the second count it is alleged that on April 23rd, 2024, he engaged in dangerous acts with arms by discharging two shorts from a 30.6 shotgun in front of his parents.
Thirdly, he is accused of threatening to kill his wife by placing a knife on her neck and uttered threat to kill words on the 27th of April.
Still on the same day he allegedly slapped and kicked his wife resulting in bruises.
On the last count he is accused of intimidating Mona-lisa Daniell Mungure by threatening to harm her family.
During the bail hearing, Principal Magistrate Magetse noted the gravity of Holland’s actions, stating that granting him bail would likely defeat the ends of justice as it would send a message that absconding and disregarding legal obligations carry no serious consequences.
“In the interest of maintaining the integrity of the judicial process, bail is denied,” Magistrate Magetse ruled.
Holland will remain in custody and is set to return to court next Wednesday to enter a plea.
The number of cards the Hollands have to play is overwhelming. This case will be dragged out in the magistrate court for years before it even reaches the high court. By the time it is resolved, those children will be grown and that is sad but Monalisa has never cared about the children it is about her own skin. And so does Althea
There are millions of messages, pictures, and videos—over a decade’s worth—that document Altheas lavish lifestyle and her enjoyment , her making holiday plans with David, her being the decision-maker, and images of her flaunting questionable outfits on Instagram. There are also photos, texts of her visiting him after she first got him arrested, her drug use, her affairs, and her attempts to involve David in her family’s history of sexual abuse. While he was accused of being the abuser by Monalisa , messages suggest Althea was trying to use David as her personal pitbull go after her abusers.
There are also records of her neglecting to feed or care for the children, never taking them to school with David’s mother stepping in as the primary caregiver. There is evidence collected from the schools etc. CCTV footage and other recordings from the office and house reveal her behavior, as well as accounts from staff. This will be years of embarrassment for Monalisa, as Althea did not disclose 90% of her real life and personality. It would not paint her in the picture she needs.
She returned because she wanted the house, and company shares around the time David found out she was sending a old school friend lewd messages and she did not want him.while she has been on a smear campaign have putt years.and years together. She aligned herself with Monalisa’s GBV (Gender-Based Violence) advocacy out of bitterness after discovering that David had moved on with a Tswana woman, who is now expecting his child. Since meeting his future Tswana wife, he has been happy, well-behaved, and it is as if a demon was lifted from him.
I find it racist that, after all this time, she suddenly takes action upon learning that he has moved on with a Tswana woman. Additionally, the Monalisa woman is using this situation as her ticket to stay in the UK. I hear she is toxic, and her ex-husband died under mysterious circumstances similar to David Holland’s current predicament.
I had a friend in high school who went through a similar situation. Despite the girl insisting that he had not abused her—or even admitting that she was also an abuser—his name was permanently damaged by the smear campaign.
We must not ruin something meant to protect women and girls by using it to falsely accuse innocent men. Remember, we all have sons, brothers, and fathers. Even Johnny Depp was not safe, but he had the money to fight back—David may not. But how many others won’t? Should we just call it “falling through the cracks”? Forget Elthia and David Holland—the real tragedy is that a system created to protect victims of GBV may suffer because of one woman’s manipulation.
As his relative, I have put forward a proposal that we should support GBV initiatives once the dust settles, funding projects to ensure its integrity. I am a father of daughters, and one day, they will be married women. I can only hope they never get caught in the web of a woman like this if they ever face marital problems.
Althea does not realize she has gone from the frying pan into the fire. But, in some ways, I believe the little racist deserves.