Court denies murder accused bail
The decision on the bail application of Thabo Makhethe was on Thursday finally concluded at the Maluti Magistrate Court after almost three weeks of bizarre incidents which resulted in delays in the judgment. Magistrate Ngciwane in his judgment quoted the sworn affidavit submitted by the three murder accused. In the affidavit, Makhethe claimed that stock theft in Matatiele is rife; therefore he is at the stake of losing his 96 cows, 110 sheep and 16 horses if he is kept in custody for longer. He also swore that his wife is medically handicapped and there is no one capacitated to take care of her needs. According to Makhethe, his wife’s condition started after their son was gunned down in what is said to be stock theft related. The murder accused also stated that he has a heart condition and needs medical attention.
Meanwhile, the state opposed the bail application, stating that the accused had planned the murder of the siblings. According to the state, the accused had followed the deceased who were travelling in their car” You trailed them with your car, pretended that you were overtaking their car, instead you stopped and you pulled your gun, shot all three of them”
In his judgement, Magistrate Court alluded that all these statements on the sworn affidavit are not convincing because there are people delegated to do the tasks ever since the accused was detained and that includes, the operation of the shops he owns. Magistrate Court, therefore, refused the bail application.
Makhethe is accused of murdering three Faro brothers at Queens Mercy last month. According to a report from Brigadier Thembinkosi Kwinana, the shooting is related to stock theft. The case has since been moved to July, 22.
