Death row inmate expresses remorse over two death cases
Death-row inmate, Gobuamang Ntsuape is a repentant man who has expressed deep remorse for his actions, a psychologist with Botswana Prison Services, Tsholofelo Zion said, when giving evidence in chief before Justice Barnabas Nyamadzabo of Gaborone High Court.
Ntsuape was mitigating for a lesser punishment following a murder conviction last year.
The Ramotswa native stood convicted of two murder charges from the 2016 incident in which he wrestled for a steering wheel of a motor vehicle they were being transported in by prison officials.
The incident resulted in the vehicle overturning and killing a special constable, Thuso Ntusa and rape accused inmate Emmanuel Mapholo.
“He is repentant and remorseful, even from his statements he regrets what he did and feels sorry for his actions,” Zion said.
According to Zion, Ntsuape had shown commendable progress in managing anger and overall well-being, adding that he was now able to respond calmly to situations.
She said with ongoing support, Ntsuape was likely to uphold better emotion management, adding that such could entail making a once-off visit to a psychologist for a checkup and reading books and other materials on emotional intelligence.
She said the need for a once-off visit to a psychologist was not only needful for Ntsuape, but was important for every other person.
Zion said other professionals who attended Ntsuape, being the prison chaplain and social worker, have also noted the inmate’s progress and indicated that he wanted to meet the people he wronged to offer his apologies, adding that there was a letter she had seen, which Ntsuape intended for one of those he offended.
She said there was also a book that Ntsuape indicated that he wanted to send to one of those he offended after he read it, saying the book would also be helpful to them.
Zion said that before the commencement of the therapy sessions, Ntsuape was struggling with issues of anger management, which resulted in strained relationships. She said the therapy identified that the convict struggled with frequent anger outburst and difficulty in managing anger.
“However, the therapy assisted him to better cope with anger, better manage relationships, enhanced emotional intelligence and to respond calmly to situations,” Zion added. Ntsuape committed the murder of Ntusa and Mapholo when he and other inmates were transported from court and was remanded for the murder of his girlfriend’s mother.
Justice Lot Moroka of Francistown High Court sentenced him to death by hanging, after establishing that he killed Sadi Kgosietsile following a break up with his ex-girlfriend Dorcus at Block 9 Francistown, by intentionally setting up the family house on fire.
On the fateful day, Ntsuape was said to have bought petrol and set on fire the two vehicles belonging to the family. Apart from two murder convictions, Ntsuape’s criminal record included conviction of arson, malicious damage to property and attempted murder.
The psychologist says Ntsuape attended 13 sessions from July 2022 to date and that he had a stable mind throughout the counselling sessions. The report also states that the death-row inmate had low emotional intelligence.
Ntsuape’s lawyer is expected to file final submissions before the 10th of July, while the state has been given until July 18th to submit their own. Ntsuape, who has already been sentenced to death for a separate matter, will know his fate on August 15th.