The Voice (Francistown)
Nomsa Ndlovu
11 March 2008
Francistown — An exchange of blows embroiling some off duty Maun police officers and a team of youngsters resulted in a Riverside ward man being slashed with a knife.
The events of the dramatic incident has landed Constable Tabona Motsamai 23, of Maun Police Station in hot soup and left him standing behind the Maun Magistrates court dock tried. Both groups were on a beer drinking spree at Mokoro Liquor Restaurant in Maun.
During the incident, a shining object was seen glistening and within a twitch of an eye, 21-year old victim Pule Makale's scream cut in the night air as he held his bisected stomach. Blood gashed out and gastric fluids oozed from the wounded man's intestines leaving the two groups at loggerheads on standstill and looking around for the cruel hand behind the gruesome sordid.
Makale was rushed to the police station, where he was referred to Maun General Hospital, treated as an emergency case, stitched and admitted for over a week. None of the cops involved in the brawl helped injured man, instead headed to their residential place at Matshwane police quarters, where investigative officers found them asleep. Makale told court that he is convinced the person who stabbed was Motsamai.
Motsamai is not on interdiction. He said that on the day of the incident, 19th May 2006, he and his companions were enjoying booze at the Mokoro when nature's call dragged him to the loo. On his way, he went past the accused, who, though unfamiliar to him, insulted him, leading to an exchange of angry words erupted between the two. Then a fight ensured with other police officers coming to their colleague's aid.
Makale said that during the brawl and commotion, he had advanced towards the accused and felt a sharp object slicing his flesh. "I pushed him off me, sent him thudding to the floor on his butts and all of a sudden I saw a glistening sharp object tumbling down from him," he said.
Gofentsemang Makale, the complainant's sister, said when she visited her sibling at the hospital in 2006, she found the accused, begging for forgiveness and revealing he had been informed that he was responsible for Makale's injuries.
Motsamai, she said, was also at Makale's side on the day that he was discharged from hospital. When he met the aggrieved family, she said Motsamai was remorseful, and paid P5000 toward the complainant's medical expenses and promised a further P20 000 as an out of court settlement.
However, when the Makales approached the Police Station for the withdrawal of the case, investigative officer Nkape Kealotswe, told them that the matter had been referred to the Attorneys General Chambers, and therefore could not be withdrawn. The pledge hasn't been paid up to date.
Charles Tlagae, defending, insisted his client initiated an out of court settlement not because he was guilty but feared loosing his job and good reputation. Tlagae therefore prayed court that his client be acquitted and discharged with immediate effect as no convicting fact has been presented against him by the state.
Principal Prosecutor Elijah Setshego from the Directorate of Public Prosecutions, submitting, said state evidence was consistent, coherent and pointing straight at the accused. Since a prima facie case had been established, he requested, Magistrate Rebecca Motsamai should put the accused on his defence. The ruling will be on the 7th of March.
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