Five soldiers who are charged with attempted murder of former Lesotho Times Editor Lloyd Mutangamiri say they don’t want Senior Resident Magistrate Phethise Motanyane to preside over their case.

Advocate Kabelo Letuka who represents Khutlang Mochesane, Nyatso Ts’oeunyane and Maribe Nathane explained to the court in which the Magistrate in question, Magistrate Motanyane, was presiding that they will later argue a recusal application in which they want the Magistrate to recuse himself from hearing the case.

Meanwhile, the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) had already instructed that this case be heard by a Senior Resident Magistrate.

The accused who are currently detained at the Lesotho Correctional Services are Brigadier Rapele Mphaki, Khutlang Mochesane, Mahanyane Phusumane, Nyatso Ts’oeunyane and Maribe Nathane and they are charged with attempted murder of Mutangamiri that happened in 2016.