MASERU — A 31-year-old police officer from Leribe allegedly shot and killed his 28-year-old wife last week following a domestic dispute, police have said.
Police spokesperson Masupha Masupha said the police officer who is based in Leribe handed himself to the police after fatally shooting his wife.
“He handed himself to the police on May 16,” Masupha said.
The suspect also surrendered the 9mm gun he claimed to have used to shoot his wife, Masupha said.
“He told the police that he had shot his wife after an argument.”
Masupha said the suspect was still out of custody because “civil servants are only arrested and criminally charged at the directive of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP)”.
Police, he said, were still waiting for that directive from the DPP before they could arrest and charge the suspect.
“He is still continuing with his duty as a police officer until the DDP has given a directive for him to be arrested.”
In a separate incident, a 29-year-old man from Mokhotlong also shot and killed his 27-year-old wife on May 17.
“It is reported that it was around 5pm when a 29-year-old man shot and killed his wife,” Masupha said.
“He shot the woman three times with a 7.65 pistol.”
Masupha said the pistol had earlier been reported missing by a villager from Ha Kotsie.
“The suspect’s father reported the matter to the police and the suspect was arrested,” he said.
“It is not yet known what led to a shooting between the couple but it also reported that their Toyota van had three bullet holes.
“The man will be charged with murder and for unlawful possession of a firearm. Police are still carrying out further investigations.”
Meanwhile, Lena reports that an 18-year-old Maseru man was yesterday sentenced to two years imprisonment with an option of a M2 000 fine after he was convicted for housebreaking.
The court heard that the man, whose name was not revealed in court, broke into Khunong Sekoati’s house and stole his laptop valued at M5 868.
Sekoati told the court that she left her house in Lithabaneng on May 5 with her door unlocked to allow her child to gain entry when she came from school.
“Upon coming back, I proceeded through the kitchen to the bedroom but I was surprised to realise that my bedroom door was also not locked and my husband’s laptop valued at M5 868 was missing,” she said.
The man was however arrested while attempting to sell the laptop for M2 800 on May 9.
He pleaded guilty and told the court that he was only trying to boost his family’s income.
He said the only source of income in his home was through his maternal grandparent’s pension.
He pleaded for leniency from the court.
