No bail for poison accused “... after retrieving the stolen liquor, the accused brought three suspects that she had found at her tavern to her house, where she tied them to an electric pole.”

A NORTHERN Cape woman who allegedly punished three boys by forcing them to drink alcohol that was spiked with poison, will remain in custody after two unsuccessful attempts to secure bail.

The boys had apparently stolen liquor from the women’s tavern in Dithakong village near Kuruman.

One of the boys died following the incident.

The Northern Cape High Court on Tuesday denied an application to appeal against the refusal of the court to grant the accused bail, on May 3 and May 10.

The accused, Lesedi Motshwarakgole, 48, was charged for murder, attempted murder, assault and contravening the firearm regulations.

Both bail applications that were brought before the Mothibistad Magistrate’s Court were denied, based on the seriousness of the charges and the measure of violence inflicted.

During bail proceedings, the investigating officer had testified that the community threatened to attack the accused if she was granted bail.

An angry mob had also marched to her business while a large number of community members congregated outside the magistrate’s court building in May, insisting that the accused not be granted bail.

Members of the SAPS had admitted that they did not have the manpower or resources to secure the accused’s safety or premises.

It was also noted by the State that community members had threatened to burn down the accused’s house in Dithakong village as well as her business, and was of the opinion that it was not in the best interests of justice to release the accused.

The legal representative for the accused, advocate LS Setouto, pointed out that the accused would suffer prejudice while in custody and that she had a right to personal freedom.

He stated that the initial anger displayed by the community had subsided.

Setouto added that the accused’s minor children would not be able to fend for themselves and that her business would have to close down in her absence.

Motshwarakgole, in her bail application, advised the court that she owned a licenced firearm while her competency certificate had been seized by the police when they arrested her on April 30.

She had indicated that she was suffering from poor health.

She promised not to interfere with the investigation or any witnesses and undertook not to abscond from trial.

Sergeant Gothusaone Mpolokeng had testified that after laying a housebreaking charge, the accused had fired a shot in the air, into the ground and from inside the house in the presence of small children and others in the house.

He added that after retrieving the stolen liquor, the accused brought three suspects that she had found at her tavern to her house, where she tied them to an electric pole.

“The accused went into the house and came back with food, which they (the three boys) refused to eat. She went back into the house and came back with a bottle containing something inside. The accused took out her firearm while another boy poured the liquid out of the bottle and told them to drink. After sharing the last glass among the three of them, the accused untied the boy whom she suspected of stealing the liquor. The other two boys heard the accused threatening to burn his hands with petrol. They managed to flee the house and ran towards the river,” said Mpolokeng.

Mpolokeng stated that the smaller boy was suffering from stomach pains and started foaming at the mouth.

“The one who was vomiting gave the smaller one his phone and told him to run home so that they could call for help. On his way home, the smaller one also started vomiting and became dizzy. Upon his arrival at home, he informed his family that the accused had given them poison. While they were waiting for an ambulance he became dizzy and experienced stomach complications.”

Mpolokeng indicated that two of the boys were admitted for medical treatment, while a search party was launched for the third boy.

“The police and community in the village were looking for the boy that first fled from the accused’s home.”

Mpolokeng stated that the boy was found the following day, after he had collapsed along the side of the road and died.

“I visited the two boys that were admitted to hospital. The one told me he was not feeling well, as the accused had nearly killed them. The 16-year-old boy was shivering and wanted to cry when I asked him how he would feel if the accused was granted bail. He said that it was unnecessary to do what the accused had done, as they had returned the goods, even though there were some short.”

He pointed out that the boys’ parents were willing to compensate the accused for the liquor that they had stolen.

“The parents of these victims and the community at large are not happy with what transpired.”

Mpolokeng said the accused’s firearm was found in her wardrobe and was not locked away in a safe in compliance with the firearm regulations.

“I asked her what she gave the three guys to drink and she identified the liquid as being White Horse.”

He said that he was unable to retrieve the liquor that was offered to the boys at the accused’s house.

Mpolokeng informed the court that the firearm licence that was produced by the accused had not been renewed and was outdated.

The case will continue in the Mothibistad Magistrate’s Court on July 25.