’Mantoetse Maama
A 46-year-old Mafeteng man is in police custody for allegedly murdering his girlfriend’s five-year-old child early this month.
According to District Commissioner of Mafeteng Police, Senior Superintendent Tšeliso Baholo, the child’s mother had initially been a suspect in the alleged murder, but was cleared by the Mafeteng Magistrate’s Court last week.
“According to police investigations, the baby disappeared on 3 April, and the 36-year-old mother, together with fellow villagers from Ha Patsa, became concerned. After searching and failing to find the baby, the case was reported to the police. Both the woman and her boyfriend were called to the police station for questioning.
“The boyfriend then confessed to killing the child and burying her body in a shallow grave in the countryside. He then took the police to the body, leading to his arrest. The body was exhumed on 20 April, and sent for a post-mortem,” Senior Superintendent Baholo said.
“Initially, it was suspected that the woman was also involved in murdering her child but the court could not find evidence linking her to the crime.”
Senior Superintendent Baholo further said there was no sign the murder was ritually motivated.
The Lesotho Times could not immediately establish when the suspect would be back in court.
