A triple murder suspect accused of killing all his immediate family members appeared in court this week to request the magistrate presiding over a case of stock theft he committed while on bail to recuse himself.
Tebogo Ramantosha, 32, of Ntloolengwae ward in Molepolole, pleaded with Magistrate Bame Ngaka to recuse himself from his two stock theft cases, citing favouritism towards the prosecution as reason for the recusal.
However, before making the plea for recusal, Ramantosha requested permission from the court to instruct police officers to escort him to the police station to get his P9,650 cash, a cooler box containing beers and his heart medication, which were confiscated at the time of his arrest.
“I have long requested the investigating officer and he promised to take me there but he has failed,” yelled Ramantosha.
The request was denied, causing Ramantosha to meltdown in court, accusing the magistrate of favouring prosecution over him.
Ramantosha, Tsaboswane Seane, aged 50, from Phokompe ward in Khudumelapye, and 57-year-old Olebeng Galetshiphe of Moatlhodi ward in Salajwe, are accused of stealing five cows in Letlhakeng village.
The trio is said to have been found in possession of the five cows worth P25,000.
In the second matter, Ramantosha and his co-accused, Motlalepula Sannawane, aged 41, were reportedly found in possession of a donkey carcass at Topielebedi lands near Letlhakeng on September 6th.
Meanwhile, the case of Ramantosha and three others accused of wiping out Ramantosha’s entire family has been referred to trial because investigations are complete, prosecution has revealed.
Suspects
The four murder suspects are: Tebogo Ramantosha (the only surviving member of the Ramantosha family); Mmoloki Boniface Tlhaelo, 39; Poloko Segwagwa, 30; and Cornelius Saidoo, 40.
They stand accused of the massacre of Ramantosha’s parents – Patrick Ramantosha, 55; Boingotlo Ramantosha, 47; and his young brother, 22-year-old Keabetswe Ramantosha on 21st June, 2018.
The young man will appear for mention for the two stock theft cases on November 24th, 2022 while the murder case will be back in court on March 7th, 2023 to confirm trial dates scheduled for 6th – 10th November, 2023.
