Soldier strangles primary school teacher to death

A 45-year old member of the Botswana Defence Force (BDF), Lieutenant Colonel Gaboutlwelwe Modirelabangwe allegedly strangled his wife to death on the night of Friday January 13th at their army home in Glen Valley, Gaborone.

According to Broadhurst Police station commander, Obusitswe Lokae, they received a report around 10pm that same day from Military Police in Glen Valley that there was a situation they needed to attend to at the camp.

Upon arrival they found the 45-year-old woman being attended to at the BDF camp clinic, where she was confirmed dead. Lokae said the woman had allegedly collapsed and was found behind the door in her home.

The deceased’s husband had reported that earlier in the day, he had collected his wife from the Taung junction when she arrived from Orapa where she was working as a primary school teacher.

“He said he later left her at home and on return, found his wife collapsed behind the main door of the house,” Lokae said, adding that he was then identified as a prime suspect and are worried about cases of murder in the policing area. They recorded seven cases in 2022.

Modirelabangwe, a native of Hukuntsi, appeared before Magistrate Onkarabile Mokone of Broadhurst Regional Court on Monday in connection with the murder of his Ramotswa-born wife with whom they have three children. State prosecutor, Sub Inspector Kenneth Ramere told court that their investigations are at infancy stage and pleaded that the accused be remanded in custody. Ramere said they are still recording statements from witnesses and anticipates that they would be done with the recordings in 10 days’ time.

Defense attorney Tebego Sebego said they also await post mortem results. Sebego requested that the accused be allowed to sign all the necessary documents that would facilitate the burial of his wife such as insurance policies.

Magistrate Mokone agreed that the signing would be done immediately after 10 days when the post mortem is provided.

Modirelabangwe will appear again before Court on the 26th of January 2023 and he will remain in custody.