Francistown — A Francistown High Court has granted bail to a key suspect in last year's infamous ritual murder of a thirteen-year-old boy.

Steve Phenyego, the stepfather to the murdered Lesego Phenyego, made headlines last year following the disappearance and, later, a grisly discovery of his stepson's body under controversial circumstances.

When the boy went missing, accusing fingers from the family as well as irate members of the public were directed at Phenyego due to his way-ward behaviour during the search for the boy. His drunkenness and reluctance to cooperate during the search led his wife, Lillian, into believing that he may have been involved in Lesego's disappearance. At some point, Phenyego was detained by Kutlwano police for his behaviour but was later released as the investigations continued.

When the charred remains of Lesego's body were found in the bush near Goldmine Junior Secondary School, the police arrested Phenyego and charged him with murder. In a dramatic twist of events, the BCP councilor for the Area, Interest Tawele, was also roped in the charge. Tawele has since been granted bail and this week Phenyego's attorney, Lyndon Mothusi, had an easy task in convincing Justice Zibani Makhwade that his client deserved to be granted bail as there was no evidence against him.

Mothusi told The Voice that police investigations had been bungled from the onset. He agreed that the basic detective work to establish the boy's route of disappearance was not done.

"Right now we don't know who killed the boy," said Mothusi. "Even if it were the stepfather we wouldn't know because the police failed in their duty. They just rushed into arresting the stepfather and his co-accused because it was probably easier to do that than the effort of following all channels of investigations."

For example, the statement by the biological father shows that the child was at his home at the material time of the 27th, but he was never charged," he said.

Outside the courtroom an excited and clean shaven Phenyego quipped: "There is no case and there never was any case to answer," he said and added: "The reason why I was detained was because of my wife's suspicion. Our relationship is now not pleasant. It appears to have been so before the incident as she said I did not show parental love. I now have my freedom and I'll pick the pieces and continue with my life."

Phenyego's wife, Lillian, has since relocated to her mother's place in Francistown's Block 9 and, as hope to get justice for her son's murder gets thinner, says she has placed her faith in God.

"If the law can't punish my son's killers, God will. I have my family by my side to give me support and I don't think I'll ever get back with the man that I believe killed my son."