ConCourt lacks jurisdiction to hear Kamoli petition ConCourt lacks jurisdiction to hear Kamoli petition
Mohalenyane Phakela
THE Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Advocate Hlalefang Motinyane, has urged the Constitutional Court to throw out former army commander, Lieutenant General (Lt-Gen) Tlali Kamoli, and others’ application for a permanent stay of their litany of criminal trials.
DPP Motinyane also urged the Constitutional Court to throw out Lt-Gen Kamoli and others’ application for the recusal of foreign judges Charles Hungwe (Zimbabwe) and Onkemetse Tshosa (Botswana) because the same case had previously been brought before the Court of Appeal which rejected their application on 2 August 2019.
Soldiers’ murder trial date set
Mohalenyane Phakela
THE trial of 10 soldiers accused of murdering three Maseru civilians in 2017 will begin on 23 March 2021 despite their pending Constitutional Court application for a permanent stay of proceedings.
Botswana Judge, Onkemetse Tshosa, who is presiding over the matter, on Tuesday set down 12 March 2021 as the pre-trial conference date. Justice Tshosa also said the actual trial will be held from 23 to 26 March and resume on 6 April 2021.
The 10 soldiers are Brigadier Rapele Mphaki, Major Pitso Ramoepane, Sergeant Lekhooa Moepi, Captain Mahlehle Moeletsi, Lance Corporal Mahlomola Makhoali, Private Nthatakane Motanyane, Motšoane Machai, Tieho Tikiso, Liphapang Sefako and Nemase Faso.
Crown wants soldier’s case speedily dealt with
MASERU-THE crown has asked the High Court to speedily hear its application to appeal in a case in which Major Pitso Ramoepane and others want three foreign judges removed.
Crown counsel Advocate Chris Lephuthing wrote the defence team on Monday saying the case has serious legal implications and must be dealt with urgently.
Advocate Lephuthing is appealing a December 11 ruling that said the High Court registrar should give the defence team documents showing how the three foreign judges were hired.
The judges are Justices Charles Hungwe from Zimbabwe, Onkemetse Tshosa and Kabelo Lebotse from Botswana.
Fourth Christmas in jail for Kamoli - Lesotho Times lestimes.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from lestimes.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Kamoli trial postponed again
Mohalenyane Phakela
FORMER army commander Lieutenant General (Lt-Gen) Tlali Kamoli and three other soldiers’ facing attempted murder charges will know on 11 December 2020 whether or not their trial proceeds.
The trial was initially supposed to begin on Thursday but it could not proceed due to a Constitutional Court application by Lt-Gen Kamoli and others to have their trials permanently stopped.
Lt-Gen Kamoli’s co-accused are Major Pitso Ramoepane, Captain Litekanyo Nyakane, Sergeant Malefane Heqoa and Corporal Mohlalefi Seitlheko.
They face attempted murder charges in connection with the 27 January 2014 simultaneous bombings of the Moshoeshoe II homes of former First Lady ‘Maesaiah Thabane and the Ha Abia residence of former police commissioner, Khothatso Tšooana.