FRANCISTOWN — Botswana police have said three Zimbabweans and a Motswana facing a murder charge have a hit list and may kill more people if released on bail.
Detective Sergeant Quiet Shalamotho told senior magistrate Thebeestsile Mulalu on Wednesday that Sicelo Sibanda (20) Javas Khumalo (35) Mulendeni Moyo (21) and a local, Moagi Borotho (31) are on a mission to avenge the death of their friend, late Patrick Maseko.
Already, they have been charged with the murder of Nkosinathi Nsindo and caused grievous bodily harm to Mbengwa Mbulawa who is fighting for his life at Nyangabgwe Referral Hospital.
“They have a hit list of people they want to kill for killing Maseko.
“The deceased (Nsindo) and Mbulawa are on that list. We fear that they may kill more people if granted bail.
“In fact, the accused seriously injured Mbulawa and thought that he was dead when they left him,” Shalamotho told the court.
The four were denied bail on Wednesday after they failed to give sufficient reasons why they should be released. The Zimbabweans face additional charges of entering the country illegally.
The four allegedly killed Nsindo on April 19 at Makobo in the Central District and caused grievous bodily harm to Mbulawa by beating him with a hammer.
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Shalamotho told the court that the accused should be remanded in custody because investigations into the matter are still at the initial stages.
“The three men from Zimbabwe do not have passports and permits to work here. We fear that they may escape to their country if granted bail. They were running away from us when we arrested them. We managed to catch Moyo after we enlisted the help of the police helicopter,” he said.
He added that the accused are not co-operating with the police on exhibits.
“They are not co-operating with us because they are refusing to hand over some exhibits that are in their possession,” Shalamotho said. The case will be continued again on May 7. — Mmegi
