…but sentence is conditionally suspended pending restitution
Kabelo Masoabi
THE High Court has sentenced Kopano Masimole to 10 years’ imprisonment for the 2019 killing of 25-year-old Molemo Ramaulu, but wholly suspended the custodial sentence on condition that he compensates the deceased’s family with 10 cattle valued at M6000 each, totalling M60 000.
The ruling was delivered by Justice Itumeleng Shale in the High Court’s Northern Division at Tšifa-li-Mali in Leribe. She ordered that the compensation be paid in monthly instalments of M5000 over 12 months, starting within 30 days. Justice Shale warned that failure to comply would result in the immediate reinstatement of the decade-long prison sentence.
Masimole, an unemployed resident of Mankoaneng in Hlotse, pleaded guilty to culpable homicide. The court heard that due to his financial circumstances, responsibility for raising the cattle would fall on his father — a pensioner and former Lesotho Mounted Police Service employee who now survives through livestock farming.
The fatal incident occurred in the early hours of 6 April 2019 near the O-Zone nightclub in Hlotse. Evidence showed that Ramaulu, a recent graduate of the Technical School of Leribe (TSL), had been celebrating a friend’s birthday with companions. After running out of alcohol at the friend’s home, the group travelled to Hlotse town to buy more refreshments and later ended up at the nightclub.
On arrival, they were confronted by an unknown man (Masimole) who hurled insults at them. The exchange continued briefly before both parties entered the club, where tensions appeared to subside.
However, at about 4am, as Ramaulu and his friends were leaving, the same man resurfaced and resumed the insults. Testimony revealed that he mocked the group as “Batsoali”, a term used to derisively refer to TSL students, and declared himself a “Mochini”, associated with Lerotholi Polytechnic, in what was perceived as an assertion of superiority.
According to a witness, Relebohile Makoala, Masimole persistently confronted the group and eventually pushed Ramaulu, who struck Masimole once in the face. Masimole then drew an Okapi knife and stabbed Ramaulu in the chest.
Makoala told the court he heard Ramaulu say, “he has stabbed me”, as blood flowed from the wound. The accused then chased other members of the group, attempting to stab them as well, before stopping when he recognised one of them and apologised, later returning to the nightclub.
Ramaulu was rushed by private vehicle to Motebang Hospital but was pronounced dead shortly after arrival.
Detective Police Constable Mzamane of the Criminal Investigation Division in Hlotse testified that Masimole was arrested following investigations. The knife used in the stabbing was later handed to police by a friend of the accused, who said Masimole had hidden it at his home after admitting to the stabbing. The weapon was kept as an exhibit.
In sentencing, Justice Shale described the killing as a tragic and shameful loss of life arising from insults exchanged under the influence of alcohol. She warned that alcohol abuse remained a major contributor to violent crime and cautioned young people against carrying weapons to entertainment venues.
The court also ordered Masimole to apologise in open court to the bereaved family. Ramaulu’s father accepted the apology on condition that he complies with the compensation order.
It further emerged that Ramaulu was the only surviving child in his family, having lost both his mother and sister. His death has left his elderly father without immediate family support, deepening the tragedy.
