Hopolang Mokhopi
MURDER accused Lintle Letima, who allegedly fatally stabbed his “ex-boyfriend”, Motseki Kholotsa, has claimed she never intended to kill the love of her life for whom she is carrying a child.
Contrary to eye witness and police statements, Letima claimed she stabbed Kholotsa mistakenly on 8 November 2024 after he tried to break her fight with another woman she had “caught” him with in their home in Moshoeshoe II, Maseru.
She stated this in her bail petition filed in the High Court this week.
Her lawyer, Advocate Kao Theoha, successfully petitioned Justice Molefi Makara to release her on M1000 bail and M3000 surety.
In what is believed to be a crime of passion, the 32-year-old Kholotsa allegedly met his demise immediately after opening the door of their home to Letima (26).
Speaking to the Lesotho Times, a friend of the deceased, who witnessed the horrifying event recounted the chaos that unfolded.
“Initially mistaking the knocking at the door for that of their landlord, Kholotsa opened the door only to be attacked,” the friend who requested anonymity said.
He said he desperately attempted to stop the bleeding from the stab wound to Kholotsa’s chest while calling for help, but failed.
The friend claimed Kholotsa and Letima had ended their relationship some time ago, but she had struggled to move on.
Despite Kholotsa’s attempts to break things off amicably, Letima’s persistent behaviour had led to the fateful confrontation that day.
“After the stabbing, Kholotsa was rushed to the hospital, where he was pronounced dead shortly after arrival,” he said tearfully.
In the aftermath, Letima voluntarily turned herself in to the police.
According to Detective Police Constable Mpho Beehle from the Pitso Ground Police Station, when officers arrived at the scene, Letima had already confessed to the crime, which helped the initial stages of the investigation.
DPC Beehle corroborated the friend’s version of events that Letima stabbed Kholotsa as soon as he opened the door for her to enter.
DPC Beehle urged the youths to manage emotions and avoid criminal activities that could jeopardise their futures.
“The tragic death of Kholotsa serves as a stark reminder of the consequences of unresolved emotional turmoil and the critical importance of communication and conflict resolution in relationships,” he said.
Letima was duly detained in police custody and appeared before Maseru Senior Resident Magistrate Thamae Thamae who conferred her with a murder charge and told her she had a right to a lawyer of her choice and to apply for bail in the High Court. He also ordered her to reappear before the same court on 29 November 2024 for a routine remand while the prosecution prepares to enrol her case for trial in the High Court.
In her bail petition before the High Court, Letima conveyed a totally different version of events.
She claimed she and Kholotsa were still lovers who were staying together till the time of the “unplanned” death.
Letima, who works for Gem Institute in Maseru, claimed she had found Kholotsa with another woman at their home on 8 November.
A fight broke between her and that other woman and when Kholotsa tried to intervene to break the fight, she claimed to have stabbed him mistakenly using a kitchen knife she had taken to defend herself against the other woman.
