LUCKY STROKE
Murder convict evades the noose Gaborone High Court slaps Mosimanewakgotla with 30-year custodial sentence for murdering girlfriend, baby
Wakgotla Ricardo Mosimanewakgotla will cool off his buttocks in prison for 30 years, after he was recently sentenced on two counts of murder by the Gaborone High Court. The murder convict, in a lucky stroke, evaded the controversial hangman’s noose, when Judge Michael Leburu sentenced him for a custodial period instead of the widely anticipated death penalty.
It was difficult to read on Mosimanewakgotla’s face as to whether he was indifferent to the ruling, or relieved that he would not be prematurely reunited with his ancestors at the hands of the hangman’s noose, as he cut a forlorn figure in court, and for the most part, hung his head in shame, with handcuffs on his hands and legs surrounded by a strong presence of prison officers.
Particulars of the case are that the accused, on or about, 9 September 2011, at Seole cattle post, Mosimanewakgotla in a fit of rage, killed Hisang and her daughter, following a misunderstanding. Mosimanewakgotla, who was aged 21 at the time of the offence, was slapped with a murder charge, in accordance with Section 202 of the Penal Code; after handing himself to the police following a failed suicide attempt, subsequent to the murder. Throughout the trial, Mosimanewakgotla’s legal representatives had premised his plea for a lesser sentence on the alleged claim that at the time of the horrific murder incident, he was intoxicated, and had suffered ‘temporary insanity’ due to anger and bitterness, particularly as Hisang had “been abusive towards him.”
Following a marathon case that culminated in a possible death sentence, Ricardo’s lawyer managed to argue for a lesser sentence for the man, who rocked headlines a few years ago, after he was implicated in the brutal killing of his girlfriend Naledi Hisang, and her toddler daughter by strangling and hanging them, following a fiery lovers’ tiff.
In his judgement, a day before the Easter holidays, Judge Leburu argued that the presented evidence makes no valid suggestion that there was premeditation on the grave offence as the killing was a result of a fight Mosimanewakgotla had with his girlfriend.
“The accused has indicated, as supporting evidence shows, presented by witnesses, that the girlfriend, Naledi, was verbally abusive and provocative towards Mosimanewakgotla, which had resulted in countless misunderstandings and fights. The second hanging, of Naledi’s one-yearold daughter was done before the convict’s passion could cool down. Furthermore, the suicide note that the convict wrote following the murder incident was a clear indication that he did not want to live anymore.
It is also an indication of his state of mind as it was done almost at the same time of the offence committed, which means he has no reason to lie,” he said.