Justice Dr. Onkemetse Tshosa has ordered that a case in which 10 members of the Lesotho Defense Force are charged with murder proceeds regardless of a pending constitutional application involving some of the accused as well as the trial itself.
The order was made following arguments by the defense and the prosecution on whether or not the criminal trial should proceed before finalization of the constitutional application.
Dr. Tshosa said there is nothing in law that prevents the matter from proceeding and therefore the case shall proceed.
The 10 accused, all LDF members, are Brigadier Rapele Mphaki, Major Pitso Ramoepana, Captain Mahlehle Moeletsi, Sergeant Lekhooa Moepi, Lance Corporal Mahlomola Makhoali, Private Nthatakane Motanyane, Mots’oane Machai, Liphapang Sefako, Nemase Faso and Tieho Tikiso.
It is alleged that they acted in concert and in furtherance of a common purpose and strangled Lekhoele Noko, Khothatso Makibinyane and Molise Pakela to death during incidents that happened at Setibing in Maseru in 2017.
The case was postponed to 23rd to 26th March.
