Although he is accused of slashing his ex-girlfriend in the head and leaving her for dead in the bush, it is actually Reetsang Phuthego’s words that landed him in trouble with the law.
The 32-year-old has been arrested and charged with threat-to-kill after allegedly warning his one-time lover, Itumeleng Mmotlana, “Today I am going to kill you, your life ends here!”
The trouble is believed to have started on the morning of Thursday 5 August when the former couple appeared before Matshelagabedi Customary Court.
During the brief hearing, the pair were instructed to spilt their corrugated irons as they were no longer together.
It seems that did not go down well with Phuthego, who allegedly threatened bloody revenge on his ex-love.
The suspect is then said to have waited for Mmotlana, hiding in the bush and then pouncing as she went to visit her new boyfriend later that same day. He allegedly cut her with a slasher before running away.
The injured woman was found by villagers who immediately alerted the police.
She was taken to Nyangabgwe Hospital where she was treated and discharged the same day.
Phuthego was eventually arrested in Sekukwe ward [Matshelagabedi] six days later – 11 August.
He has since been arraigned before Francistown Magistrates Court and, with investigations still on-going, remanded in custody until his next mention on 28 September.