’Mantoetse Maama
The police are looking for a 26-year-old suspect and his accomplice who allegedly stabbed and shot a Thaba-Tseka couple after robbing the family of M7 000 last Saturday.
According to District Commissioner of Thaba-Tseka Police, Litsietsi Selimo, the suspect and the unknown partner-in-crime attacked the couple in the middle of the night and left them for dead.
The 26-year-old was released from prison last month almost two years into a three-year jail term for stock-theft, Senior Superintendent Selimo added.
“Police preliminary investigations have revealed that the couple had retired for the night and later heard gunshots outside their home. Unfortunately, one of the bullets hit the man in the jaw as he looked out through the window to see what was going on. The suspect and his accomplice then forced their way into the house and stabbed the woman in the arm as her husband lay down injured,” Senior Superintendent Selimo.
“The man had just arrived home when the attack took place, as he works in South Africa. It is suspected the robbers knew the couple’s bedroom because of the way they went through the house searching for money and cell-phones. They only managed to get the cash.”
Senior Superintendent Selimo said the stabbed woman was treated as an outpatient, while her husband is fighting for his life at Queen ‘Mamohato Memorial Hospital.
“This suspect was sentenced to three years in jail after he was found guilty of stock-theft. He had served one year and 11 months of the sentence when he was released. The police are still trying to establish the identity of his friend and we are appealing to the public to give us any information that might lead to the arrest of these criminals.”
On his part, LCS spokesperson Neo Mopeli said the suspect could have been among 17 prisoners released last month following a ministerial directive.
“The suspect could have been amongst the 17 prisoners who were released on 8 June. The minister gave a directive that prisoners who still had 12-months or less to serve, should be released,” Assistant Superintendent Mopeli said yesterday.
