Murder trial of Ralikonelo Joki (Leqhashasha) and two others proceeded this week before Judge Tšeliso Mokoko in the High Court of Lesotho. The first crown witness, Teboho Kumi who was a cab driver that took the accused person to and from the deceased gave his testimony. Kumi said he was called by Sootho Liphoto earlier that day requesting him to transport him and his friends to lower Thamae later that day.
He said when they got near Tsenolo FM that is when he learnt that the accused are going to kill Joki. “When we got closer to Tsenolo FM, that is when I asked what were we going to do there, then I was told by the accused persons that they were going to Kill Joki. I asked as to why I was not told earlier about this and Sootho replied that he knew I was going to refuse to take them here,” said Kumi.
Kumi further stated that Sootho and Mothusi Tlelase exited the car leaving him in company of Kamo Phakoe and Atang Majara who is his friend. He said few minutes later after the accused have entered Tsenolo FM premises he heard gunshots and the two men came back rushing to the car and told him to drive, which he did. Kumi said, “Iasked as to why did they kill Joki and Sootho replied that Joki was full of himself.
The second state witness who I also an accomplice, Sekhobe Maama gave incriminatory evidence as he stated that Moabi Sesioana disclosed to him about the payment he made when they met at his shop in Mokema, about a week after the killings. He said, “Sesioana had just returned from South Africa when met him at his shop.
He asked me to keep him company to his home, which I did and on our way he asked about the events in the village.” Maama said he told Sesioana about the killing of Mothibe and Ntsane by Sootho and Mothusi. “He then asked me if Sootho had given me any money in regard to those killing but I told him no. He then replied that he had paid Mothusi and Sootho M5000.00 to kill both Mothibe and Joki,” disclosed Maama.
Maama stated that before the murder of Joki and Mothibe, Sootho and Tlelase came to his home asking if he had contacts of anyone from St. Michaels or whether his father could possibly have Joki’s numbers. He said he told them that he did not have them but he would try to find them for him. “When I asked why they needed Joki’s numbers, they told me that they were going to kill.”
Maama said when he inquired why they would want to kill him, they told him that it was initiation related issues which he would not understand because I am not part. In his evidence, Maama told the court that he was present when Sootho and Tlelase shot and killed Mothibe and Ntsane.
