BITTER END
Dumped man torches ex-lover’s house in attempted murder
DESPITE being old enough to handle his heartache better, a 54-year-old man is believed to have set fire to his girlfriend’s home in Shashemooke in retaliation for dumping him.
As well as arson, Seeletso Pitso has been slapped with an attempted murder charge, as his sweetheart and her mother were asleep in the house when he torched it.
Indeed, Bophelo Makhotiso, 47, and her mum, owe their lives to a brave passerby who rushed into the two-and-a-half room house and dragged the two women to safety before the flames could take hold.
The Good Samaritan reportedly spotted a man suspected to be Pitso dousing the building in paraffin before setting it alight.
Having fled the scene, the suspect was arrested the next day.
Appearing before Francistown Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday - four days after the Friday blaze - although he was not asked to enter a plea, a seemingly confused Pitso inadvertently admitted his guilt.
The middle-aged man insisted that when he is sentenced, the court should show him leniency as he was angry and unable to control his emotions when he started the fire.
CUSTODY
With investigations into the matter just getting started, Pitso was remanded in custody until his next court appearance on 13th July.
Meanwhile, in a separate interview with The Voice, Gerald Station Assistant Superintendent, Meshack Mosika, said it appeared to be a case of a break-up gone wrong.
“Although we are still investigating, it seems like the end of the accused and complaint’s relationship did not sit well with the accused. The complaint said she heard a bang and smelt fire. She said they were rescued by a passer-by,” revealed the police boss, adding the fire was mostly confined to the complainant’s bedroom.
Travelling to the crime scene at Setambule ward on Wednesday morning, The Voice learnt Makhotiso and her elderly mother had since relocated to Tati Siding.
We were in luck, however, as a neighbour agreed to talk - albeit on condition of anonymity!
“I also heard the bang on that night, she is lucky Selebatso used paraffin because if it were petrol, we could be telling a different story. They were dating for so long but they parted this year - if I am not mistaken - and the man did not take it well,” said the source.
Although the house is largely intact, the front door was completely burnt down, while scorched electric cables in the sitting room hung loosely from the roof.