Alleged baby killer begs for mercy, denied bail
Murder accused Jakoba Leselamose (38) of Moshupa was denied bail by Magistrate Ntuli Ditebogo of Kanye Magistrate Court on Tuesday June 14th.
Ditebogo said Leselamose should remain locked up because of reasons advanced by prosecution that he (Leselamose) is a neighbour to the deceased's family in Moshupa.
Leselamose allegedly killed baby Jaone Motlhabane (3) on the 27th May 2022 by twisting him by the neck until he died. The dead baby was found inside a traditional doctor’s consultation room, the doctor who also happens to be Leselamose’s uncle.
“You had applied for bail and considering the presentation handed by the prosecution, I find it to be in the public interest and for the accused's safety that his bail be denied and that the accused remanded in custody. It has been pointed out that he stays in the same neighbourhood as that the deceased is from. He is also to be taken to Sbrana Hospital for Psychiatric evaluation,” magistrate Ditebogo ruled.
In response, Leselamose who had applied for bail said, “Your Honour, that is my brother over there, I live with him in Gaborone, I am not neighbour to those people, they are neighbours with my parents, not me.” However, Magistrate Ditebogo insisted, “I have made my decision you can appeal the decision if not happy. You will be here again for mention on the 14th July 2022,” she said, as she closed Leselamose’s file.
Head bowed, handcuffed and chains dangling between his legs, a disappointed Leselamose was then taken out of the court room, and as he left he screamed, 'Your Honour please! Your Honour please!'
It was evident even before court started that Leselamose was somewhat restless. He had at one point wanted to go into the Chambers and was stopped at the door by cops.
“Where is that one going? A full court had buzzed.”
Then another man said, “What is wrong with you inmate? Are you not well, you even look like a new prisoner, the samp you eat has not settled well in your stomach? Or are you stressed?
“Mo ga se stress, ke makgakga hela,” one Cop guarding Leselamose chipped in, suggesting the accused was not really stress but just acting up.
But Leselamose never responded to the remarks thrown his way, only for him to shout loudly when court proceedings for the day began, disrupting magistrate Ditebogo when she was still dealing with a different and first case of her day.
“Your Honour I plead for mercy, I do not know what is happening with this case,” Leselamose blurted out.
The magistrate ignored him and the uniformed men took him out of the court room,cautioning him to behave.
The accused only returned inside when his case was called out and prosecution argued that Leselamose is violent and therefore not safe for him to be left unattended.