…over his alleged infidelity
Kabelo Masoabi
THE High Court this week heard chilling details of how a Leribe woman allegedly masterminded the brutal murder of her husband over suspected infidelity.
Puseletso Sebotsa is accused of orchestrating the killing of her husband, Kabelo Mosesanyane, in Hlotse, Leribe.
She allegedly committed the murder with the assistance of Rethabile Liholo, ‘Matseko Mabote, and Tšepo Forere.
Liholo has since died so Sebotsa and the other two this week appeared before Justice Itumeleng Shale in the Northern Division of the High Court in Tšifa-li-Mali, Leribe.
According to the charge sheet, the incident occurred on 18 August 2018, near Lisemeng, where the accused allegedly acted in cahoots to commit the crime resulting in the untimely death of Mosesanyane — in contravention of Section 40(1) read with Section 26(1) and Section 40(2) of the Penal Code Act of 2010.
Police evidence presented before Justice Shale suggested that Sebotsa, the victim’s wife, orchestrated the killing because she was enraged by her husband’s alleged infidelity and flirtations with her friends.
Discovery of the body
Prosecution witness, Police Constable (PC) Mokhethi Mokhethi, told the court that on that fateful day, his office received a report that a man’s body had been found by the roadside near Lisemeng. Upon arriving at the scene, police found a corpse, which residents later identified as that of Mosesanyane.
Preliminary investigations led the police to Liholo, who was arrested a month later, on 7 September 2018. Police said Liholo voluntarily confessed and led them to his home in Ha Leshoele, where he produced the alleged murder weapon — a yellow screwdriver wrapped in a rag. He also revealed that Sebotsa had promised him M10,000 as payment for the murder.
Sebotsa confesses
The second Crown witness, PC Ntabanyane from the Criminal Investigation Division, testified that he arrested Sebotsa when she came to the Hlotse Police Station to inquire about the progress of her husband’s murder investigation.
“As we conversed, I became suspicious and began interrogating her. After about 30 minutes, she admitted to orchestrating her husband’s death, claiming he had been making advances towards her friends. She confessed to hiring a hitman (the now deceased Liholo) to carry out the killing,” PC Ntabanyane told the court.
Murder details
According to the police report, on 18 August 2018, Sebotsa persuaded her friend Mabote to take her husband out for a drink in Hlotse, knowing he was romantically pursuing her at the time. The plan was to get him drunk to make it easier for the hitman to strike.
When the victim did not show signs of intoxication quickly enough, Mabote allegedly added brake fluid to his beer. Later, they drove to a secluded area near Lisemeng, where they parked the victim’s car.
Meanwhile, Liholo was following them closely.
Just as the pair was about to engage in sex, Liholo reportedly emerged from the dark and struck the victim repeatedly on the head with a stone. Mabote assisted in pinning him to the ground, after which Liholo used the screwdriver to stab him multiple times, leaving him to die at the scene. His body was discovered the next morning.
The fourth accused, Tšepo Forere, a police officer, was allegedly involved in procuring the hitman, according to the prosecution’s evidence.
Claims of police brutality
Defence lawyer, Advocate Lebohang Malokotsa, argued that Sebotsa’s confession may have been made under duress, claiming she had been subjected to severe abuse during police interrogation.
“A2 (the wife) told me that during questioning, you, Ntabanyane, fondled and assaulted her — even hanging her from the roof and holding her in isolation for more than 48 hours, in violation of legal protocols,” Adv Malokotsa charged.
However, PC Ntabanyane vehemently denied the allegations.
The case continues today (Thursday).
