Justice will be served for the family of slain Mochudi East former Member of Parliament, Isaac Davids, as the court has finally set trial dates with 16 witnesses expected to take to the stand.
Davids was brutally stabbed and stripped naked allegedly by his two employees back in 2018. Although plea has been reserved, Zimbabwean Jabulani Dube, 31, and 32-year-old Mokgalemi Maleya from Ramotswa will be tried for the murder.
The state is looking to put away the two men for the murder of the MP, largely through accounts of eye witnesses. The Voice is in possession of statements from key witnesses that the state is banking on to prove their case in court.
According to one of the state key witnesses, Ramonti Segwati, he recalls in his evidence that he had left with the deceased MP for his cattle post as they were in the process of buying cattle from him.
“Upon arrival at Sorilatholo we found the two herd boys known to me as Petros at a place where traditional beer (khadi) was sold. The two horses which Mr. Isaac mentioned earlier were kept outside the yard on the eastern side.”
The state witness will say in court that Davids requested Petros to return his horses back to the cattle post. He is expected to tell the court: “In response Petros said, I quote: ‘Di laise mo koloing ya gago o tsamae ka tsone (load them in your vehicle and go with them)’. Mr. Isaac replied by saying “ke ne ke sa tlela dipitse (I did not come here for the horses)”.
According to this witness’s account Petros then got angry and started to insult Davids. “He angrily advanced to Mr. Isaac saying o mar* ke tlo go fagola ke go kgaola po (your testicles I am going to castrate you and cut off your penis),” reads his statement.
According to him Davids then retaliated by hitting Petros and he charged at the deceased with an Okapi knife.
“Mr. Isaac pulled a wood /log from a built fire place to protect himself. He then asked me to rush to the vehicle to bring a gun. I rushed to the vehicle but I did not find any gun. I saw Petros stabbing him on the back and on the chest below the ribs while the other one stabbed him on the left thigh. They continued stabbing him until he fell down,” the witness is expected to tell the court.
Another state witness, Ineeleng Modimowabatho, will further testify that Davids tried in vain to run away from his assailants. “Petros said to the Motswana man (co-accused) A re mo leleke re mo tlhabe (lets us run after him and stab him). Petros called his friend saying ta kwano re tle re mmolaye (come let’s kill him).”
Modimowabatho will further tell the court: “..Petros undressed his employer (Davids) leaving him with an underwear which looked black in color. Petros took off Mr. Isaac’s brown belt and hit the windscreen which got shattered upon arrival of his driver and the Police officer. He also wanted to assault the driver,” she will further testify.
Another state witness Assistant Superintendent Morolong Morolong is also expected to tell the court that “I interviewed the suspects at Letlhakeng Police station. During the interview they admitted to have stabbed the deceased. Jabulani Dube (Petros) told me that he was using a butcher knife to stab the deceased.”
Trial dates have been set for 13 to 16th October at the Gaborone High Court, whilst the duo will on April 6th appear for the final status hearing.
@sharonmathala
sharonm@thevoicebw.com