R v Maqeba (CRI/T 13 of 90) [1991] LSCA 120 (20 September 1991)

C R I / T / 1 3 / 90 IN T HE H I GH C O U RT OF L E S O T HO In t he m a t t er of : R E X v T H A B A NG S O S O LO M A Q E BA J U D G M E NT D e l i v e r ed by t he H o n. M r. J u s t i ce M . L. L e h o h la on t he 2 0 th d ay of S e p t e m b e r, 1991 T he C r o wn c h a r g ed t he a c c u s ed w i th h a v i ng c o m m i t t ed t h r ee c r i m i n al o f f e n c es e n u m e r a t ed in C o u n ts 1, 2 and 3. T he f i r st t wo a re of M u r d er w h i le t he l a st is of t h e f t. T he d e c e a s e d, h u s b a nd and w i fe i . e. L e h l o h o n o lo M o l o c he and M a n n e na M o l o c he r e s p e c t i v e ly a re a l l e g e d ly to h a ve s u c c u m b ed to i n j u r i es i n f l i c t ed u n l a w f u l ly and i n t e n t i o n a l ly on t h em on or a b o ut 1 8 th M a r ch 1 9 89 at a p l a ce k n o wn as M a q o a la in t he M o h a l e 's H o ek d i s t r i c t. T he a c c u s ed p l e a d ed not g u i l ty to b o th t h e se c h a r g e s. T he c o n t e nt of t he 3rd c h a r ge is t h at t he a c c u s ed i n t e n t i o n a l ly and u n l a w f u l ly s t o le a w a l l e t, a w a t ch and a s um of M 1 - 50 all b e l o n g i ng to L e h l o h o n o lo M o l o c h e. T h is o f f e n ce is a l l e g ed to h a ve o c c u r r ed a r o u nd t he s a me t i me and p l a ce as t he t wo o t h er o f f e n c es r e f e r r ed to a b o v e. T he / a c c u s ed - 2- a c c u s ed p l e a d ed n ot g u i l ty to t h is o f f e n ce as w e l l. T he f i r st w i t n e ss f or t he C r o wn w as P W9 n u m b er 1 5 70 D e t e c t i ve T r o o p er J o n a se w ho t e s t i f i ed t h at he is a m e m b er of t he R o y al L e s o t ho M o u n t ed P o l i ce s t a t i o n ed at M o h a l e 's H o ek and is a t t a c h ed to t he C . I . D. s e c t i o n. In M a r ch 1 9 89 t h is w i t n e ss w as s t i ll at h is M o h a l e 's H o ek s t a t i o n. He t e s t i f i ed t h at on 2 0 th M a r ch 1 9 89 w h i le at h is d u ty s t a t i on he r e c e i v ed a r e p o rt a b o ut t wo d e ad b o d i es w h i ch s e a m ed to h a ve s u f f e r ed d e a th f r om u n n a t u r al c a u s e s. P W9 t o ok a v e h i c le and m a de f or t he s c e ne in t he c o m p a ny of d e t e c t i ve t r o o p e rs S e e i so P W 10 and M o s e l i. On a r r i v al at t he s c e ne P W9 s aw t he d e ad b o dy of a w o m an l y i ng b e l ow a h i l l. T he b o dy w as c o v e r ed w i th b l o od all o v e r. P W9 s aw t h r ee w o u n ds on i t. He s aw a w o u nd on t he l e ft c o r n er of t he h e a d, a n o t h er o ne b e l ow t he l e ft e ye and t he t h i rd w as in t he f o rm of a t e ar on t he u p p er l i p. P W9 f o r m ed t he o p i n i on t h at t he t wo w o u n ds on h e ad and b e l ow t he l e ft e ye r e s p e c t i v e ly w e re c a u s ed by a b l u nt i n s t r u m e n t. T h ey w e re n o n e t h e l e ss o p en w o u n d s. T he one on t he u p p er lip s e e m ed to h a ve r e s u l t ed f r om a s h a rp i n s t r u m e n t. B e c a u se P W9 and h is c o l l e a g u es w e re s u r p r i s ed t h at t h e re w as no e v i d e n ce of b l o od h a v i ng c o l l e c t ed u n d e r n e a th t he b o dy w h en t h ey l i f t ed or s h i f t ed it to e x p o se t he g r o u nd b e l ow it t h ey s t a r t ed l o o k i ng f or c l u es f r om w h i ch to d e t e r m i ne h ow t h is b o dy c o u ld h a ve c o me to t he p l a ce w h e re it w as f o u nd r e s t i n g. T h us 20 p a c es a w ay f r om t h is b o dy P W9 and h is c o l l e a g u es s aw a f o o t p a th n e xt to w h i ch w e re / t wo - 3- t wo s t o n es w i th b l o od on thorn. T he g r o u nd w h e re t he s t o n es w e re had s o me b l o od t h at a p p e a r ed to h a ve b e en c o v e r ed w i th s o i l. O t h er s t o n es and b u s h es n e a r by a p p e a r ed to h a ve b o r ne s o me b l o o d. S o me h u n d r ed y a r ds a w ay f r om t h is b o dy P W9 w as t a k en to t he s e c o nd b o d y. T h is w as a m a n 's b o d y. It lay s o me 15 p a c es a w ay f r om t he f o o t p a th m e n t i o n ed a b o v e. It a p p e a r ed to h a ve b e en p u s h ed i n to and a m o ng s o me h i gh s h r u b s. T h is w i t n e ss w h o se h e i g ht is 5 f e et 10 i n c h es t e s t i f i ed t h at t he s h r u bs w h e re t he b o dy lay o v e r - t o p p ed h im in h e i g ht by a b o ut o ne f o o t. On e x a m i n i ng t he s c e ne P W9 d i s c o v e r ed t h at t he s h r u bs and g r a ss w e re b r o k e n. A r o u nd t h at a r ea t he g r a ss w as a b o ut an a n k le h i g h. T h is g r a ss w as b r o k en f r om t h at p o i nt to s o me o t h er p o i nt at t he p a t h. On e x a m i n i ng t he b o dy t wo w o u n ds w e re v i s i b le on t he d e c e a s e d 's h e a d. O ne w as in t he m i d d le of t he h e ad w h i le t he o t h er w as on t he l e ft c o r n er of t he h e a d. B o th a p p e a r ed to h a ve b e en c a u s ed by a b l u nt i n s t r u m e nt and. w e re o p e n. T h e re w as no b l o od on t he g r o u nd f r om w h e re t he boby w as l i f t ed by P W9 and h is c o l l e a g u e s. T h us it w as P W 9 's c o n c l u s i on t h at t he b o dy had b e en t r a n s p o r t ed to t he s c e ne in t he b u s h es a f t er t he b l o od had c o n g e a l e d. F o l l o w i ng t he lead of t he d i s t u r b a n ce on t he g r a ss to t he p a th P W9 f o u nd t h at t h e re w as b l o od on t he g r o u nd and s h r u bs n e ar and at t he p a t h. P W9 t e s t i f i ed t h at it a p p e a r ed t h at soil had b e en u s ed to c o v er t he b l o o d. T h is v i ew he c a me to f or it s e e m ed t he soil had s c a t t e r ed on t he p a th and on g r a ss / P W9 - 4- P W9 e x a m i n ed t he v i c i n i ty a r o u nd t h is s e c o nd s p ot a nd f o u nd a b a m b oo c o l o u r ed c r o ok m a de of c a ne w i th a b l a ck p l a s t ic t ip ( a p p a r e n t ly f or p u r p o s es of p r o t e c t i ng t he t ip f r om w e ar as it c o m es i n to c o n t a ct w i th t he g r o u n d ). A r o u nd t he a r ea w h e re t h is c r o ok w as f o u nd t h e re w e re n e i t h er f o ot p r i n ts n or s i g ns of d i s t u r b a n ce on t he g r a s s. At b o th p l a c es a l o ng t he p a th o p p o s i te t he r e s p e c t i ve c o r p s es P W9 c o l l e c t ed s t o n es w h i ch w e re stained w i th b l o o d. T h e se r e s p e c t i ve s p o ts w e re a b o ut f i ve h u n d r ed p a c es a p a r t. T he d i m e n s i o ns of o ne of t h e se s t o n es w as g i v en as a b o ut 1 ft by 6 i n c h es by 3 i n c h e s. P W9 c o l l e c t ed t h e se s t o n es a l o ng w i th t he c a ne s t i ck a nd h a n d ed t h em b e f o re t he c o u rt b e l ow at t he p r e p a r a t o ry e x a m i n a t i on of t h is m a t t e r. H o w e v er at o ne of t he s i t t i n gs of t he H i gh C o u rt at Q u t h i ng P WS d i s c o v e r ed t h at t he s t o n es w e re all m i s s i ng e x c e pt t he c a ne s t i ck h a n d ed in a nd m a r k ed E x h i b i t " 1 ". P W9 t o ok t he d e ad b o d i es to t he m o r t u a r y. T h e se b o d i es d id not sustain a ny f u r t h er i n j u r i es f r om w h e re t h ey w e re c o l l e c t ed to t he m o r t u a ry w h e re t h ey w e re t a k en f or p u r p o s es of p o st m o r t em e x a m i n a t i o n. A f ew d a ys t h e r e a f t er f o l l o w i ng s o me i n f o r m a t i on P W9 d i s p a t c h ed p o l i ce to a r r e st t he a c c u s ed a nd o ne L e b o h a n g. U n d er c r o s s - e x a m i n a t i on P W9 t e s t i f i ed t h at t he g r o u nd at t he s c e ne w as w et a nd t h at he n o t i c ed h u m an f o ot p r i n t s. P W9 c o u l d n 't d i s c e rn if t h e se f o ot p r i n ts w e re of o ne pair of f e et or of m o re b e c a u se t h ey s e e m ed to h a ve b e en i m p r i n t ed on b r o k en g r a ss w h i ch f o r m ed a trail. He f u r t h er t e s t i f i ed t h at t h e re w as a s t r e am n e ar w h e re L e h l o h o n o l o 's b o dy w as / f o u nd - 5- f o u nd in the t a ll s h r u b s. The w o m a n 's b o dy t oo lay n e xt to a s t r e a m. But t h is is a d i f f e r e nt s t r e am f r om t he o ne n e xt to w h i ch t he m a n 's b o dy w as f o u n d. T h e se s t r e a ms c o n v e r ge f u r t h er d o w n. P W9 in r e s p o n se to t he q u e s t i on w h e t h er t he g r a ss f r om t he p a th to t he r e s p e c t i ve b o d i es s e e m ed as if s o m e t h i ng had b e en d r a g g ed on it or r o l l ed said it did n ot s e em as if a n y t h i ng had b e en d r a g g ed a l o ng t h at g r a s s. He said t he soil u s ed to c o v er t he b l o od in b o th s p o ts n e ar t he p a th a p p e a r ed to h a ve b e en l i b e r a l ly s p r i n k l e d. P W9 explained t h at t he s t o n es he had c o l l e c t ed w e re t h r ee in all - t wo f r om t he s p ot at t he p a th n e ar w h e re t he m a le d e c e a s ed w as f o u n d, t he o t h er f r om w h e re t he f e m a le d e c e a s ed w as f o u n d. All of t h e se a p p e a r ed to h a ve b e en f r e s h ly c h i p p ed and a l so to h a ve b e en k n o c k ed t o g e t h e r. T h e re w as no soil on a ny of t h e se s t o n e s. In f a ct t h ey s e e m ed to h a ve b e en p l a c ed by s o me o t h er a g e n cy t h an n a t u r al w h e re t h ey w e re f o u n d. It w as e l i c i t ed t h r o u gh c r o s s - e x a m i n a t i on t h at P W9 h ad a p p e a l ed to p e o p le g a t h e r ed at t he s c e ne t h at a n y o ne w ho k n ew of w h o e v er w as r e s p o n s i b le f or t he d e a t hs s h o u ld r e p o rt t he m a t t er to t he p o l i c e. P W9 w as h o w e v er n ot i n f o r m ed t h e re and t h en by a n y o ne w ho k n ew of w ho had c o m m i t t ed t he o f f e n ce e v en t h o u gh L e b o h a ng and ' M a m pe had a l l e g e d ly b e en i n f o r m ed by t he a c c u s ed a b o ut t h i s. P W9 said he k n ew t h at L e b o h a ng had a l so b e en a r r e s t ed as a s u s p e c t. He d i d n 't k n ow if L e b o h a ng w as a r r e s t ed b e f o re or a f t er t he a c c u s e d. In any c a se L e b o h a ng w as n ot a r r e s t ed by P W 9. He said he d i d n 't r e m e m b er if L e b o h a n g 's w i fe ' M a m pe w as a l so a r r e s t e d. / It - 6- It w as p ut to P W9 t h at t he a c c u s ed w as k e pt t en d a ys in d e t e n t i on in a m a t t er i n v e s t i g a t ed by P W9 but t he l a t t er r e p l i ed t h at e v en so he d i d n 't r e m e m b e r. P W9 w as i n f o r m ed t h at t he a c c u s ed w o u ld say ( p r e s u m a b ly w h en t e s t i f y i ng in h is d e f e n c e) t h at he w as k e pt in d e t e n t i on and v i c i o u s ly t o r t u r ed u n d er P W 9 's c o m m a nd and by h is p h y s i c al act t o o. P W9 d e n i ed t h i s. P W9 s t a t ed t h at he d i d n 't b e l i e ve t he s u g g e s t i on t h at t he C o u rt o r d e r ed on 4th A p r il 1 9 89 t h at t he a c c u s ed be m e d i c a l ly e x a m i n ed f o l l o w i ng t he a s s a u l ts he r e c e i v ed in d e t e n t i o n .. P W9 f u r t h er s t a t ed he d i d n 't r e m e m b er w h e re he w as w h en t he a c c u s ed w as t a k en to C o u rt on 4 th A p r il 1 9 8 9. It w as put to P W9 t h at at P r e p a r a t o ry E x a m i n a t i on he had said 20 p a c es a w ay f r om w h e re he f o u nd t he b o dy of t he m a le d e c e a s ed t h e re w e re t r a c es of b l o o d. P W 9 's a n s w er w as a v i r t u al a f f i r m a t i on of t h is t h o u gh he s e e m ed to m a ke it a p p e ar t h at he had said d i f f e r e n t ly at p r e p a r a t o ry e x a m i n a t i o n, H is a n s w er w a s: " . . . . . . . . . .? I said f r om t he b o dy and not t o w a r ds t he c o r p s e. W h at is t he d i f f e r e n ce d i f f e r e n ce f or t h e re w as no b l o od at t he p l a ce w h e re t he b o dy w as and a l o ng t he w ay to i t ". Y es t h e re is t he ? W i th r e g a rd to t he w o m an d e c e a s ed P W9 t e s t i f i ed u n d er c r o s s - e x a m i n a t i on t h at t h e re w as no t r a il of b l o od f r om t he r o ck on t he b l o od stained s p ot to w h e re t he b o dy w a s. P W9 said t h e re w e re s i g ns of s o me s t r u g g le n e ar w h e re he f o u nd t he s t o n es t w e n ty p a c es a w ay f r om t he m a le d e c e a s ed b ut n o ne w h e re t he b o dy w as f o u n d. T he s a me w as t he c a se a r o u nd t he b l o od s o a k ed s p ot s e v e r al p a c es a w ay f r om t he f e m a le d e c e a s e d. / He - 7- He said he w as s h o wn i t e ms of p r o p e r ty n e ar e a ch of t he d e c e a s e d. N e ar t he w o m an d e c e a s ed he f o u nd a j e r s ey a nd a s h o e. T h is d e c e a s ed w as s t i ll w e a r i ng t he c o m p a n i on of t h is s h oe on o ne of h er f e e t. He a l so s t a t ed t h at he s aw n e ar t he s t o ne at t he p a th u p r o o t ed s e h a l a h a la or s e n o k o n o ko s h e a f. In r e l a t i on to t he m a le d e c e a s ed he f o u nd u p r o o t ed s e h a l a h a la n e ar t he b l o od s o a k ed s p o t. He a l so f o u nd a c a ne s t i ck in t he g u l ch s o me d i s t a n ce a w ay f r om t he m a le d e c e a s e d. T he w i t n e ss w as r e f e r r ed to t he p r e p a r a t o ry e x a m i n a t i on r e c o rd w h e re he r e f e r r ed to t wo i n s t e ad of t he t h r ee s t o n es he t a l k ed a b o ut in t h is C o u r t. He h o w e v er i n s i s t ed t he s t o n es w e re t h r ee a nd s t a t ed t h at he c o u l d n 't r e m e m b er if he r e f e r r ed to o n ly t wo at t he p r e p a r a t o ry e x a m i n a t i o n. To p ut h is s t o ry in p e r s p e c t i ve at p r e p a r a t o ry e x a m i n a t i on t h is w i t n e ss said at p a ge 26 " s t o n es h ad m o v ed a nd b r u s h es b r o k e n. T he s t o n es h ad b e en f r e s h ly b r o k e n. h ad s c r a t c h e s. of t h e m ". T h e se a re t he s t o n e s. O t h er s t o n es I t o ok t wo It s e e ms p o s s i b le t h at t he t wo of t h em r e f e r r ed to a b o ve a re in r e f e r e n ce to t he s p ot r e l a t i ng to t he d e c e a s ed 20 p a c es a w ay f r om t he p a t h. T h us it s e e ms to me t he w i t n e ss w as n ot r e f e r r i ng to t he t o t al n u m b er of s t o n es he c o l l e c t ed f r om t he r e s p e c t i ve s p o ts of b o th d e c e a s e d. He s p o ke in r e l a t i on to t he m a le d e c e a s ed a nd w as n ot led in r e l a t i on to t he s t o ne he p i c k ed in r e l a t i on to t he f e m a le d e c e a s ed a c c o r d i ng to my r e a d i ng of t he r e l e v a nt p o r t i on of t he P . E. r e c o r d. In t h is c o n t e xt t he w i t n e s s 's h o n e s ty w as b r o u g ht to t he s u r f a ce w h en he said he d i d n 't r e m e m b er if at P . E. he said he c o l l e c t ed o n ly t wo i n s t e ad of t he t h r ee s t o n es he r e f e r r ed to in t h is C o u r t. / P W9 -8- P W9 w as t o ld t h at he o n ly m e n t i o n ed f o o t p r i n ts l e a d i ng f r om t he p a th to t he m a le d e c e a s ed w h en he h e a rd C o u n s el f or t he a c c u s ed m e n t i on i t. P W9 r e p l i ed t h at he had i n d i c a t ed t h at g r a ss w as b r o k en a l o ng t he " p a t h" l e a d i ng to t he b o dy of t he d e c e a s ed s h o w i ng t h at it w as t r a m p l ed o n. It w as s u g g e s t ed to P W9 t h at g r a ss or b u sh c an be b r o k en by a n y t h i ng b ut he i n s i s t ed t h at it a p p e a r ed to h a ve b e en w a l k ed o n. P W9 a d m i t t ed t h at he had h e a rd a b o ut a w a t ch r e m o v ed or s t o l en f r om t he d e c e a s e d 's b o d y. He f u r t h er a d m i t t ed h e a r i ng as w e ll a b o ut a p u r se a s / t he M l - 50 s t o l en or r e m o v ed a b o ut f r om t he d e c e a s e d 's b o d y. He a l so a d m i t t ed h e a r i ng of t he f a ct t h at t he w a t ch w as said to h a ve e n d ed up in ' M a m pe ' M a p a n e 's p o s s e s s i o n. P W9 d e n i ed e v er b e i ng u n t r u t h f ul to t h is C o u r t. He d e n i ed t h at he w as e v a s i ve on i m p o r t a nt a s p e c ts of t he c a s e. He t o ld t he C o u rt t h at it w a s n 't t r ue t h at t he a c c u s ed w as t o r t u r ed by h im or in h is p r e s e n c e. He d e n i ed t h at t he a c c u s ed w as at all s e nt to a d o c t or f o l l o w i ng t he a l l e g ed t o r t u r e s. T he n e xt w i t n e ss f or t he C r o wn w as P W 10 N o. 5 5 44 T r o o p er S e e i so w ho t e s t i f i ed t h at he s et o ut f or M a q o a la w h e re he r e c e i v ed i n f o r m a t i on r e l a t i ng to p e o p le w ho h ad d i e d. He and P W9 m a de f or t he s c e ne w h e re t h ey f o u nd m a ny p e o p le a l r e a dy s e a t e d. A m o ng t h em a l r e a dy w e re t he C h i ef and S g t. M p h a h a m a. T he C h i ef t o ok t h em to t he b o dy of a w o m an w ho w as l y i ng f a ce d o w n. T he n u m b er and p o s i t i o ns of t he w o u n ds . o b s e r v ed by t h is w i t n e ss Tend s u p p o rt to P W 9 's e v i d e n ce on t he r e l e v a nt p o i n t s. T h e re w as a j e r s ey n e ar t he b o d y. It had b l o od on i t. T he o n ly b l o od s e en w as n e ar t he f o o t p a th b ut n o ne n e ar or u n d er t he b o d y. T h is w i t n e ss s aw t h r ee b r o k en s t o n es n e ar t he b l o o d. T h ey w e re stained in b l o od and w e re a b o ut h a lf t he s i ze of a f o o t - b a l l. / T he - 9- T he i n v e s t i g a t i ng t e am t h en h e a d ed f or t he b o dy of a m an s o me 4 00 p a c es a w ay f r om t h at of t he w o m a n. T h is b o dy w as a m o ng " k o l i t s a n a" b r u s h e s. T h e re w e re t wo o p en w o u n ds on t he h e ad w h i ch w as f l a t t e n ed f r om f r o nt r i g ht to b a s e. T e e th w e re p r o t r u d i n g. At a p o i nt on t he f o ot p a th s o me d i s t a n ce a w ay f r om t he b o dy P W 10 o b s e r v ed b l o od w h i ch s e e m ed to h a ve b e en s p i l l ed a nd l a t er b e en c o v e r ed w i th s o i l. N e ar t he b l o od w as a g r e en b ag m a de of w o ol d e s c r i b ed as t he t y pe of b ag u s ed by o ld m e n. T h is w as a s l i ng b ag t he s i ze of t h is w i t n e s s 's p a l m. T h e re w as a b r o wn w a l l et a l s o. T h e se p u r s es w e re b o th e m p t y. On 2 5 th M a r ch 1 9 89 P W 10 s et o ut f or t he a c c u s e d 's r e s i d e n ce in t he c o m p a ny of T r o o p e rs M o l e t s a ne a nd P h e k o. T h ey f o u nd t he a c c u s ed t h e r e, i n t r o d u c ed t h e m s e l v es to h im a nd PW10 s h o w ed h im h is I. D. C a rd a nd g a ve h im c a u t i o n. T h e r e a f t er he c h a r g ed t he a c c u s ed w i th t he t wo m u r d e r s; a r r e s t ed h im a nd t o ok h im to t he C h a r ge O f f i ce at M o h a l e 's H o e k. PW10 s t a t ed t h at e i t h er on 2 6 th or 2 7 th he a nd o t h e rs w e re l ed by t he a c c u s ed to a p l a ce w h e re a h a n d le of a k n i fe w as r e c o v e r ed n e ar w h e re t he t wo b o d i es h ad b e en f o u nd p r e v i o u s l y. T h is h a n d le w as of a k n i fe r e g a r d i ng w h i ch t he a c c u s ed is said to h a ve m a de a r e p o rt to P W 1 0. T he b l a de w as b r o k en a nd t he a c c u s e d 's e x p l a n a t i on of h ow it g ot b r o k en w as t h at it g ot b r o k en w h en he w as s t a b b i ng t he w o m an d e c e a s e d. T h is h a n d le w as h a n d ed to t he C l e rk of C o u rt M o h a l e 's H o ek b ut it w e nt m i s s i n g. It w as p ut to PW10 t h at t he a c c u s ed w o u ld s ay he n e v er s h o w ed P W 10 a ny k n i fe a n y w h e re a ny t i m e. P W 10 d e n i ed t h i s. / P W 10 - 1 0- P W 10 d e n i ed m a k i ng t he a c c u s ed d ig w i th h is f i n g e rs f or a k n i fe at a s p ot to w h i ch t he a c c u s ed w as t a k en at t he a r ea w h e re b o d i es w e re f o u n d. P W 10 r e a d i ly i n c l i n ed to t he i n q u i ry w h e t h er t he k n i fe w as p i c k ed up on t he s u r f a ce of t he g r o u nd c o v e r ed w i th g r a s s. PW10 said on t he d ay t he b o d i es w e re c o l l e c t ed f r om t he s c e ne he h ad l o o k ed f or c l u es a nd s u s p i c i o us o b j e c ts t h at m i g ht h a ve b e en u s ed to c o m m it t he m u r d e r s. He d i d n 't f i nd t he k n i fe h a n d le t h at d a y. W h en d i s c o v e r ed t h is k n i fe w as l y i ng s o me 45 to 50 p a c es a w ay f r om t he w o m a n 's b o d y. He said he d i d n 't k n ow w h at h a p p e n ed to t he b l a d e. He said t h at t he q u e s t i on p ut to h im t h at P W1 ' M a k a m o h e lo M o l o c he t o ok t he b l a de w as n ew to h i m. He said he n e v er i n t e r r o g a t ed P W1 a b o ut t he a l l e g ed b l a d e. P W 10 w as t o ld t h at t he a c c u s ed w o u ld s ay he k n ew n o t h i ng a b o ut t he k n i f e, f u r t h er t h at P W 10 t o ok t he a c c u s ed to w h e re t he b o d i es w e re f o u nd a nd o r d e r e d / to l o ok f or t he k n i fe he k n ow n o t h i ng a b o ut t i ll he f o u nd i t. P W 10 d e n i ed t h i s. It w as p ut to P W 10 t h at t he a c c u s ed d ug w i th h is f i n g e rs i n to t he g r o u n d. T h is t oo w as d e n i ed by P W 1 0. He a l so d e n i ed t h at t he k n i fe h a n d le w as n ot a b o ve t he g r a ss b ut d ug u n d er t he s u r f a ce of t he s o i l. He d e n i ed l e a d i ng t he a c c u s ed to w h e re t he b o d i es h ad b e e n. A s k ed to e x p l a in " W h at h a p p e n e d. D id y ou j u st s ay to h im t a ke us w h e re t he b o d i es w e re g o i ng to t he b o d i es b ut w h e re he said he h ad t h r o wn a k n i f e. M e a n i ng it w as by c o i n c i d e n ce t h at t he k n i fe h a n d le w as f o u nd w h e re t he b o d i es h ad b e en Y e s. f o u nd We w e re n ot ? ? P W 10 f u r t h er s t a t ed t h at it w as t h r o u gh i n v e s t i g a t i o ns t h at he r e a l i s ed f i ve d a ys a f t er t he b o d i es h ad b e en d i s c o v e r ed t h at t he a c c u s ed w as t he c u l p r i t. He said he / d i d n 't - 1 1- d i d n 't k n ow a b o ut t he a r r e st of L e b o h a ng b ut d id s ee h im at t he p o l i ce s t a t i o n. P W 10 d e s p i te h a v i ng said t h at he h ad s e en L e b o h a ng at t he c h a r ge o f f i ce a nd t h us g i v i ng an i m p r e s s i on t h at he d id n ot k n ow w h at he h ad c o me to do t h e re s t a t ed t h at he h ad s e en h im at M a q o a la at t he t i me w h en t h is w i t n e ss w as g o i ng to t a ke a s t a t e m e nt f r om h i m. T h is t i me t he a c c u s ed w as a l r e a dy u n d er a r r e s t. PW10 c o n c e d ed to t he s u g g e s t i on t h at t he a c c u s ed w o u ld s ay w h en he g ot to t he c h a r ge o f f i ce a f t er h is a r r e st he f o u nd P W2 L e b o h a ng a nd P W1 ' M a k a m o h e lo M o l o c h e. He d e n i ed t h at P W1 h a n d ed a k n i fe b l a de to h i m. He d e n i ed e v er s e e i ng t he k n i fe b l a de d e s c r i b ed as r u s t y. He d e n i ed t h at t he a c c u s ed l a st s aw t h at k n i fe b l a de in P W 1 0 's p o s s e s s i on at t he p o l i ce s t a t i o n. He f u r t h er d e n i ed t h at t he k n i fe b l a de w as p u r p o s e f u l ly m a de to d i s a p p e ar in o r d er to m i s l e ad t he C o u r t. PW10 a d m i t t ed t h at t he a c c u s ed w as a r r e s t ed on 2 6 th M a r ch 1 9 8 9. He h o w e v er d id n ot k n ow w ho t o ok h im b e f o re t he M a g i s t r a t e. He s t a t ed t h at he w o u ld n ot be in a p o s i t i on to d e ny t h at t he a c c u s ed w as b r o u g ht b e f o re a M a g i s t r a te on 4 th A p r il 1 9 8 9. N or w o u ld he k n ow if t he m a g i s t r a te o r d e r ed t h at t he a c c u s ed s h o u ld go to s ee t he d o c t or as he h ad b e en a s s a u l t e d. PW10 r e i t e r a t ed h is s t a t e m e nt t h at t he f e m a le d e c e a s ed h ad o ne w o u nd b e l ow t he r i g ht e ye a nd a n o t h er on t he r i g ht s i de of t he h e a d. F u r t h er t h at t h e re w as a c ut w o u nd on t he T ip b ut explained t h at b e c a u se of t he c l o t t i ng of b l o od it w as n ot c l e a r ly d i s c e r n i b le if t he c ut w as i n c i s ed or r u g g e d. He h e ld f a st to h is s t o ry t h at t he m a le d e c e a s ed h ad t wo o p en / w o u n ds - 1 2- w o u n ds on t he h e a d. C o n s e q u e n t ly C o u n s el f or t he a c c u s ed w i t h d r ew a q u e s t i on w h i ch i n i t i a l ly w as i n t e n d ed to s h ow i n c o n s i s t e n cy b e t w e en t h is w i t n e s s 's t e s t i m o ny a nd t he d o c t o r 's on t he p o i n t. P W 10 a d m i t t ed t h at at P . E. he had said he f o l l o w ed a t r a il to t he m a n 's d e ad b o d y. T h is he d e s c r i b ed as a n a r r ow t r a il n ot in c o n s t a nt u s e. It w as c o v e r ed w i th g r a ss h e re and t h e re and w as w et at certain p o i n ts h e n ce h is a b i l i ty to s ee f o o t p r i n ts a l o ng i t. It a p p e a r ed m o re t h an o ne p e r s on h ad u s ed i t. He explained t h at s o me f o o t- p r i n ts w e nt e v en b e y o nd t he m a n 's b o dy b ut s t a t ed t h at o ne c o u l d n 't d e t e r m i ne if t he f o o t p r i n ts w e re in a ny w ay c o n n e c t ed w i th t he c o n v e y a n ce of t he b o d y. To my m i nd t h is s h o u ld n ot be s u r p r i s i ng b e c a u se o t h er e v i d e n ce d i s c l o s ed t h at s o me b o ys w ho c a me to r e p o rt to s o me v i l l a g e rs i n c l u d i ng t he a c c u s e d 's a u nt a b o ut t h e ir d i s c o v e ry of a d e ad b o dy w e re a d v i s ed n ot to m a ke a ny m e n t i on of t h at e v en t h o u gh it h ad b e en r e a l i s ed in t he v i l l a ge t h at t he t wo d e c e a s e d 's a b s e n ce f or d a ys b e f o re w as u n a c c o u n t ed f o r. N ot to m e n t i on t h at t he a c c u s e d 's a u nt i n c l u d i ng P W2 and P W3 and o ne m o re w o m en h ad a l l e g e d ly h e a rd t he a c c u s ed s ay he had k i l l ed t h o se d e c e a s e d. P W2 and P W3 h ad n ot o n ly h e a rd t h is b ut h ad s e en t he t wo d e ad b o d i es a l l e g e d ly s h o wn to t h em by t he a c c u s ed h i m s e lf a nd h ad b e en a l l e g e d ly f o r c ed to d i s p o se of t h e se b o d i e s. PW10 s t a t ed t h at ho r e c e i v ed a r e p o rt a b o ut t he w a t c h, p u r se and M 1 - 50 a l l e g e d ly s t o l en by t he a c c u s ed f r om t he d e ad m a n. H is i n v e s t i g a t i o ns led h im to t he r e c o v e ry of a p u r se t h o u gh a nd n ot a ny of t he o t h er i t e ms of p r o p e r t y. T h is p u r se he said he f o u nd n e ar t he m a n 's d e ad b o d y. He said he q u e s t i o n ed ' M a m pe a b o ut t he w a t ch he h ad l e a r nt had / f o u nd - 1 3- f o u nd i ts w ay to h er p o s s e s s i on b ut d id n ot f i nd i t. On r e - e x a m i n a t i on PW10 i l l u s t r a t ed t h at t he b o d i es a p p e a r ed to have b e en d u m p ed w h e re he f o u nd t h em f or t h e re w as a b s e n ce of s i g ns of t h e ir m o v e m e n ts to t he r e s p e c t i ve s p o ts a nd of b l o od b e l ow w h e re t h ey h ad r e s t e d. He f u r t h er t e s t i f i ed t h at of t he t h r ee s t o n es he a l l e g ed he f o u nd s o me d i s t a n ce f r om w h e re t he w o m a n 's c o r p se w as he t o ok o n ly t wo b e c a u se o n ly t h e se w e re b l o od stained, a nd t h e r e f o re v i t al to h is c a s e. He said he w as p o s i t i ve he w as led by t he a c c u s ed to t he s p ot w h e re t he a c c u s ed r e t r i e v ed t he k n i fe h a n d l e. He s t a t ed t h e re c o u l d n 't h a ve b e en a ny r e a s on w hy he w o u ld h i de t he k n i fe b l a de f r om C o u r t. He r e i t e r a t ed t h at all t he e x h i b i ts w h i ch d i s a p p e a r ed h ad b e en h a n d ed to t he C l e rk of C o u rt f or s a fe k e e p i ng d u r i ng P . E. It w as t h en t h at t h ey d i s a p p e a r e d. He s t a t ed t h at t he k n i fe w o u nd w as t he o ne on t he d e ad w o m a n 's m o u t h. He said t h is w as a k n i fe w o u nd b e c a u se it w as s t r a i g ht a nd n ot r u g g e d. T he n e xt w i t n e ss f or t he C r o wn w as P W2 L e b o h a ng M a f o so w ho w as i n t r o d u c ed to t he C o u rt as an a c c o m p l i c e. A f t er h is r i g h ts h ad b e en explained to h im a nd he h ad e x p r e s s ed w i l l i n g n e ss to g i ve e v i d e n ce he w as s w o rn a nd he t e s t i f i ed t h at he c o u ld n e i t h er r e ad n or w r i t e. H is h o me is at M p h a r a ne s o me d i s t a n ce f r om M a q o a l a. He said he k n ew t he a c c u s ed as t he l a t t er u s ed to c o me a nd s t ay at ' M a m o t e l e l e 's in t he Ha ' M a p a ne v i l l a g e. P W2 k n ew t he t wo d e c e a s e d. A s k ed if he c o u ld r e c a ll t he e v e n ts of 1 8 th M a r ch 1 9 89 he t o ld t he C o u rt t h at t h is w as a S a t u r d ay w h en he a nd o t h e rs w e re at Ha R a m p e li w i th t he t wo / d e c e a s ed - 1 4- d e c e a s e d. T h ey h ad g o ne t h e re f or t he r i t u al c e r e m o ny of t he r e m o v al of a m o u r n i ng c l o t h. T he t wo d e c e a s ed h ad a d a u g h t er m a r r i ed at Ha R a m p e l i. P W2 a nd o t h e rs s p e nt t h e ir t i me at t h is p l a ce u n t il a f t er s un s et w h en t he t wo d e c e a s ed l e ft h im at l a te d u s k. P W2 remained t h e re t i ll v e ry l a t e. He o n ly l o ft w h en t he m o on w as up a nd a r o u nd t h at p e r i od t he m o on w o u ld s et j u st b e f o re s un r i s e. W h en P W2 l e ft t he t wo d e c e a s ed h ad l o ng l e f t. P W2 w as in t he c o m p a ny of P W3 ' M a m p e. He t e s t i f i ed t h at w h en he and P W3 w e re at H l a b a n e n g - s a - Ha R a n n oi h e a d i ng f or t h e ir h o me t h ey h e a rd s o me ( n a t u r a l) w h i s t le b e i ng b l o wn f r om b e h i nd t h em P W2 s t o p p ed w h en he h e a rd t h is w h i s t l e. So d id P W 3. W h en P W2 l o o k ed b a ck he s aw t he a c c u s ed a p p e a r i ng f r om t he d i r e c t i on of t he w h i s t l e. P W2 w a i t ed f or t he a c c u s ed b e c a u se he k n ew h im a nd w as a f o l l o w - v i l l a g e r. T he a c c u s ed r e a c h ed and j o i n ed P W2 a nd P W 3. S o me t en p a c es l a t er t he a c c u s ed said " N g d a n a bo I h a ve d o ne s o m e t h i ng b a d ". P W2 a s k ed w h a t. T he a c c u s ed r e p l i ed t h at he had k i l l ed P a b a l lo and ' M a n n e n a. T he t r io p r o c e e d ed a l o ng t h e ir w a y. P W2 f u r t h er t e s t i f i ed t h at a l t h o u gh he h ad s e en t he a c c u s ed at Ha R a m p e li at d ay t i me t he a c c u s ed w as n ot at t he h o u se w h e re t he t wo d e c e a s ed a nd he w e r e. T he a c c u s ed w as at t he o ld M a m a l e f a n a 's h o u se n e xt d o o r. P W2 d id n ot s ee w h en t he a c c u s ed l e ft f or t h e ir c o m m on v i l l a g e. P W2 said w h en r e p o r t i ng h is a l l e g ed a ct t he a c c u s ed w as t a l k i ng n o r m a l l y. He w as s p e a k i ng n ot in w h i s p e rs b ut in / c l e ar - 1 5- c l e ar v o i c e. P W2 w o u ld n ot s ay if t he a c c u s ed s o u n d ed f u l f i l l ed in w h at he r e p o r t ed he h ad d o ne b e c a u se he said he d i d n 't k n ow t he a c c u s ed so w e ll as to m a ke a ny s u ch d e t e r m i n a t i on a b o ut h i m. He t o ld t he C o u rt t h at t he a c c u s ed h as a b ig v o i ce a nd t h at he w as s p e a k i ng in h is u s u al b ig t o ne t h at he h ad h e a rd h im s p e ak in to o t h e r s. As t h ey m o v ed a l o ng w i th t he a c c u s ed l e a d i ng t he w ay f o l l o w ed i m m e d i a t e ly by P W2 t h ey c a me u p on t he b o dy of t he d e c e a s ed ' M a n n e n a. T he a c c u s ed s t o od a s i de a nd p o i n t ed at t he d e c e a s ed a nd said " t h is is w h e re I k i l l ed ' M a n n e n a ". T h is d e c e a s ed h ad l a in a c r o ss t he m i d d le of t he p a th w h i ch m e a s u r ed a b o ut a f o ot in b r e a d t h. T he w i t n e ss w as p o s i t i ve t h at t wo p e o p le c a n n ot w a lk a b r e a st in t h at p a t h. T he a c c u s ed o r d e r ed t h at P W2 s h o u ld p i ck up ' M a n n e n a 's b o dy a nd c a r ry it a l o ng w i th t he a c c u s ed to d u mp it o ff t he e d ge of a l e d ge in t he r i d g e. T he r i d ge w as d e s c r i b ed as n ot f ar f r om t he s p ot w h e re t he b o dy w as p i c k ed u p. T he d i s t a n ce b e t w e en t h e se t wo p o i n ts w as e s t i m a t ed at b e t w e en 40 a nd 50 p a c e s. F r om t he s o u nd of t he a c c u s e d 's t o ne P W2 f e lt t h at he w as n ot b e i ng r e q u e s t ed to h e lp b ut w as b e i ng c o m m a n d ed to c a r ry t he b o d y. W h en P W2 p r o t e s t ed t h at he h ad n e v er c a r r i ed a d e ad b o dy b e f o re t he a c c u s ed o r d e r ed h im to q u it h is t a lk a nd do as t o l d. P W2 said he s aw t h at t h is d e c e a s ed w as f u ll of b l o od in t he u p p er p a rt of h er b o d y. T he a c c u s ed o r d e r ed h im to t a ke t he d e c e a s ed by t he l e g s. T he t wo m en l i f t ed t he b o dy ( t he a c c u s ed holding t he h e a d) a nd t o s s ed t he b o dy o v er t he e d ge of t he r i d g e. / P W2 - 1 6- P W2 said he c o m p l i ed w i th t he a c c u s e d 's o r d er to c a r ry t he d e c e a s ed by h er f e et b e c a u se he f e a r ed h im a nd h as all a l o ng b e en a f r a id of h i m. He t e s t i f i ed t h at ho n e v er e x c h a n ge a ny w o r ds w i th t he a c c u s ed b e c a u se t he a c c u s ed n e v er t a l ks to h i m. A l t h o u gh t h e ir h o m es a re o n ly 50 to 60 p a c es a p a rt w i th t he a c c u s e d 's a u nt w h e re t he a c c u s ed s t a ys P W2 w o u ld r a t h er c o m m u n i c a te w i th t he a c c u s e d 's a u n t 's c h i l d r en if he w i s h es to m a ke a r e p o rt a b o ut t h at h o u s e h o l d 's s t r ay s t o ck or d r i ve t he s t o ck h i m s e lf t h an a l e rt t he a c c u s ed to a ny s u ch e v e n t. Ho t o ld t he C o u rt t h at t he a c c u s ed w as t h r e a t e n i ng h im w i th d e a th if he d id n ot do as o r d e r e d. T he w o r ds a t t r i b u t ed by P W2 to t he a c c u s ed a re " H e y, y ou f e l l ow as y ou r e f u se c a r r y i ng t h is p e r s on I k i ll y ou h e re a nd n o w. y ou b o th w i th ' M a m pe l i ke t h is p e r s o n ". I w i ll k i ll P W2 said he w as b e s i d es h i m s e lf w i th f e ar at t h is s t a ge a nd f e a r ed t h at t he a c c u s ed w as g o i ng to k i ll h i m. P W2 d e s c r i b ed t he l e d ge w h e re ' M a n n e n a 's b o dy l ay h i d d en f r om v i ew as s h a l l ow - o n ly t he h e i g ht of t he c h a ir f r om t he s c at d o w n. B e c a u se of t he w e i g ht of t h is d e c e a s e d 's b o dy P W2 said he w as c o m p e l l ed to t a ke s h o rt u n s t e a dy s t r i d e s. It w as c l e ar to t he C o u rt t h at a l t h o u gh t he l o d ge w as s h a l l ow it e f f e c t i v e ly o b s c u r ed t he b o dy t h r o wn i n to it f r om t he v i ew of a n y b o dy m o v i ng a l o ng t he p a th f r om w h e re it w as p i c k ed u p. P W2 said t he a c c u s ed p i c k ed up t he d e c e a s e d 's j e r s ey f r om t he s c e ne w i p ed b l o od f r om t he g r o u nd w i th it a nd r u b b ed o ff d i rt f r om u n d e r f o ot by s t e p p i ng on it w i th h is s h o e s. T he a c c u s ed t h en t o ok t h is j e r s ey a nd t h r ew it w h e re ' M a n n e na / h ad - 7- h ad b e en d u m p e d. T h is t i me t he a c c u s ed w e nt t h e re a l o n e. T h en he c a me b a ck a nd p l a c ed s t o n es on t he b l o od w h i ch h ad c o l l e c t ed in t he p a th w h e re t he b o dy h ad b e e n. P W2 said w h en ha r e s p o n d ed to t he a c c u s e d 's w h i s t le t h ey w e re t w e n ty p a c es a p a rt f r om e a ch o t h e r. P W2 said t he p a r t i c u l ar a r ea w h e re he s aw t he s t o n es w h i ch w e re l a t er d u n k ed i n to t he b l o od w as n ot r o c k y. He f e lt t h at t h e se s t o n es h ad e v i d e n t ly b e en b r o u g ht t h e re by s o m e o n e. He said ' M a m pe d i d n 't h e lp c a r ry t he d e c e a s ed or e v en a c c o m p a ny t he t wo m en to t he e d ge of t he r i d ge w h e re t he b o dy w as d u m p e d, b ut remained b e h i n d. A f t er all t h is t h en t he t r io p i c k ed t h e ir w ay a l o ng t he p a th l e a d i ng to t h e ir v i l l a g e. T h ey m o v ed s i l e n t ly w i t h o ut t a l k i n g. T h en t h ey r e a c h ed a s p ot w h e re L e h l o h o n o l o 's b o dy w as l y i ng s o me 4 00 or 5 00 m e t r es f r om w h e re t h at of ' M a n n e n a 's w as f o u n d. L e h l o h o n o lo is a l so k n o wn as P a b a l l o. T he a c c u s ed is said to h a ve said " h e re is t h is o t h er o ne of t he m an I k i l l e d ". O n ly t he l e gs of t h is b o dy w e re in t he p a t h. T he r e st of t he b o dy w as o u t s i de t he p a t h. T he h e ad w as r e s t i ng n e ar a " l e n g s n a" b u s h. T he a c c u s ed p o i n t ed at t h is b o dy a nd i m m e d i a t e ly s e a r c h ed t he p o c k e ts of i ts c l o t h s. He t h r u st h is h a nd up t he d e c e a s e d 's i n n er c l o t h i n g. A p p a r e n t ly t he d e c e a s ed h ad s t r a p p ed a s l i ng p u r se to h is b o d y. T he a c c u s e d, I am t o ld e x t r a c t ed a p a lm s i z ed b r o wn p u r se f r om i n s i de t h is woollen o n e. T he a c c u s ed f u r t h er o p e n ed t h is b r o wn p u r se f r om i n s i de w h i ch he t o ok R l - 5 0. P W2 said he s aw t h at t h is w as R l - 50 b e c a u se he w as n e xt to t he a c c u s ed a nd b e c a u se o v en t h o u gh he c a n n ot r e ad or w r i te he c an c o u nt a nd i d e n t i fy m o n ey t h r o u gh h is c o n s t a nt u se of i t. He t o ld t he C o u rt / t h at - 1 8- t h at t h is p u r se h as a f l ap t h at g o es o v er t he m o u th and g e ts s e c u r ed to t he s i de of t he p u r se by s t u d s. P W2 s t a t ed t h at t he a c c u s ed e x t r a c t ed w h i te p a p e rs f r om t he w o o l l en p u r se and t o ok t h em i n to a f i e ld n e a r by and set t h em a l i g h t. He f u r t h er t e s t i f i ed t h at t he a c c u s ed w o nt to t he m a le d e c e a s e d, r e m o v ed t h at d e c e a s e d 's w a t ch a nd h a n d ed it to P W 3. W h en P W3 a s k ed w h at s he w as to do w i th t h is w a t ch t he a c c u s ed said to h er " H ey y ou I s ay y ou s h o u ld t h r ow a w ay t h is w a t c h ". P W3 t h en d id as o r d e r e d. P W3 h e r e s e lf said s he m a de as if to o b ey t he o r d e r. As a c o n c e s s i on to be d e d u c ed f r om P W 2 's t e s t i m o ny on t h is p o i nt t he C o u rt w as to h e ar P W2 t e s t i fy as f o l l o ws "I o n ly s aw t he h a nd m o ve in a t h r o w i ng m o t i on b ut d id n ot s ee t he w a t ch l a n d ". P W2 f u r t h er i n f o r m ed t he C o u rt t h at t he a c c u s ed t h r u st h is h a nd a l o ng t he m a le d e c e a s e d 's w a i st and e x t r a c t ed f r om a h a nd m a de s h e a th a t h in k n i f e. T he a c c u s ed p o c k e t ed t h is k n i f e. P W2 w e nt on to say t he a c c u s ed t h en o r d e r ed h im to h o ld t he m a le d e c e a s ed by t he f e et w h i le t he a c c u s ed h e ld h im by t he f a c e - e n d. T h ey p l a c ed t he d e c e a s ed a m o ng t he b u s h es in t he d i n g le n e ar a b r o o k. T he a c c u s ed t h en u p r o o t ed t he S e n o k o n o ko b u s h e s. T he d e c e a s ed had b e en c a r r i ed and p l a c ed a b o ut 4 p a c es a w ay f r om w h e re P W2 f i r st s aw h im l y i ng a c r o ss h is p a t h. P W2 t e s t i f i ed t h at t he b r o ok g o es on t he o t h er s i de and t he s h r u bs h a ve c r e a t ed a t h i ck c l u s t er of i m p e n e t r a b le c u r t a in to s i g h t. S t r e s s i ng t h is p o i nt he s t a t ed - "No w ay c an o ne p a s s i ng a l o ng t he p a th s ue a b o dy d u m p ed on t he o t h er s i de of t he s h r u b s. T he v i ew is o b s t r u c t ed by a c a n o py of s h r u b s ". / W i th - 1 9- W i th t he " S e n o k o n o k o" w h i ch t he a c c u s ed h ad u p r o o t ed t he l a t t er u s i ng it as a b r o om s w e pt t he b l o od w i th i t. T h is b l o od w as w h e re t he d e c e a s e d 's h e ad h ad r e s t ed f o ur p a c es a w ay f r om w h e re t he b o dy w as d u m p e d. P W2 s t a t ed t h at he c o m p l i ed w i th t he o r d er to c a r ry t h is o t h er d e c e a s ed a l so b e c a u se he f e a r ed he w o u ld c o me to s o me h a rm if he r e f u s e d. In t h is r e g a rd P W2 t e s t i f i ed as f o l l o ws : " T he a c c u s ed a s k ed me if I w as s t i ll f o o l i ng w h en t o ld to c a r ry t he c o r p s e. u s ed t h at I w o u ld be k i l l e d. t h at I f e lt I w o u l d n 't h a ve b e en a b le to r un a w a y. I said I w as s c a r e d. D o n 't t e ll me t h at S T h en t he a c c u s ed said : T h en I c o m p l i e d ". T he s a me t h r e at w as I w as so a f r a id P W2 said t h at w h en t he a c c u s ed r e a l i s ed t h at t he " S e n o k o n o k o" w as n ot e f f e c t i ve in s w e e p i ng t he b l o od he k i c k ed a c h u nk of soil a nd c o v e r ed t he b l o od w i th i t. T h e r e a f t er t he t r io h e a d ed h o m e. It w as P W 2 's t e s t i m o ny t h at in a n s w er to P W 3 's q u e s t i on a c c u s ed r e p l i ed he h ad k i l l ed b o th d e c e a s ed b e c a u se t h ey w e re m a k i ng l i fe d i f f i c u lt f or h is a u n t. By a c c u s e d 's a u nt P W2 u n d e r s t o od t h at t h is w as a r e f e r e n ce to ' M a n t s ie M o l o c he w ho l i v ed s o me 20 p a c es a w ay f r om t he d e c e a s e d 's h o m e. P W2 said ho a l so is t he a c c u s e d 's n e i g h b o ur a nd s w o re t h at it w as n ot t r ue t h at t he t wo d e c e a s ed m a de l i fe u n b e a r a b le f or ' M a n t s i e, On r e a c h i ng t h e ir h o me v i l l a ge a k i l o m e t re or l e ss f r om S e h l a b a n e - s a - R a n n oi t he trio c a me to ' M a t h o r i s o 's h o u s e. / T he a c c u s ed - 2 0- T he a c c u s ed k n o c k ed at t he d o o r. P W4 ' M a t h o r i so o p e n e d. S he a p p e a r ed to k n ow w ho w as k n o c k i n g. P W2 s aw h er at t h is s t a ge h o l d i ng t he h at w h i ch he h ad s e en t he a c c u s ed w e a r i ng d u r i ng t he d a y. P W2 explained t h at P W4 a nd t he a c c u s ed a re n ot r e l a t e d. H o w e v er t he t wo are o f t en s e en t o g e t h er w i th ' M a n t s i e. E v en t h at d ay t h ey w e r e. He t e s t i f i ed t h at t he a c c u s ed is n ot m a r r i e d. P W4 is m a r r i ed and h er h u s b a nd w o r ks in t he m i n e s. T he a c c u s e d, we w e re t o l d, r e p o r t ed to P W4 t h at he had k i l l ed P a b a l lo and ' M a n n e n a. P W2 said he h e a rd t h is f or he and t he a c c u s ed w e re t o g e t h er w h en t he a c c u s ed said t h i s. A s k ed to s ay t he a c t u al w o r ds P W2 said t he a c c u s ed said " ' M a t h o r i so I h a ve k i l l ed P o b a l lo and ' M a n n e na j u st n o w ". T h en P W4 said "I w o u ld r a t h er y ou h ad n ot k i l l ed ' M a n n e n a ". P W2 said he s aw P W4 s h e d d i ng t e a rs at t h is s t a ge a nd o b s e r v ed t h at s he w as c r y i n g. P W2 w e nt f u r t h er to s ay t h at t he a c c u s ed a s k ed P W4 to j o in h i m, P W3 a nd P W2 to P W 5 's p l a ce w h e re t he a c c u s ed said t h ey s h o u ld g o. T he a c c u s ed did n ot s ay w hy t h ey s h o u ld m a ke f or P W 5 's t h o u g h. L i ke a r o l l i ng v o l c a n ic m ud t he i n i t i al p a r ty of t h r ee c o l l e c t ed P W4 on t h e ir w ay to P W 5 ' s. T he a c c u s ed k n o c k ed at t he d o or of t he h ut t h e r e. P W5 ' M a n t s ie a s k ed if t he a c c u s ed w a n t ed t he k e y. T he k ey in r e f e r e n ce a c c o r d i ng to P W5 w as t h at of a n e a r by f l at of h e rs n o r m a l ly u s ed by t he a c c u s ed f or s l e e p i ng i n .. P W2 said t he a c c u s ed r e p l i ed t h at i n d e ed he w a n t ed t he k e y. H o w e v er t he a c c u s e d, it is said, i n v i t ed P W5 to / c o me o ut - 2 1- c o me o ut f or as he s u g g e s t ed P W5 had v i s i t o r s. P W2 said he h ad n e v er i n t i m a t ed to t he a c c u s ed t h at he w a n t ed to go to t he a c c u s e d 's a u n t ' s. H o w e v er by v i s i t o rs P W2 u n d e r s t o od t he a c c u s ed to i n c l u de h im a m o ng t h e se o t h e rs w ho d id n ot s t ay at P W 5 's p l a c e. P W5 o p e n ed t he d o or to t he f l at r o o f ed h ut a nd a s k ed t h e se p e o p le to go i n s i d e. T h ey s at d o wn in t h e r e. T h en t he a c c u s ed said to P W5 "I h a ve k i l l ed P a b a l lo a nd ' M a n n e na j u st n o w ". P W5 said " if o n ly y ou h a d n 't k i l l ed ' M a n n e n a ". S a y i ng t h is P W 5, t he C o u rt w as t o l d, s t a r t ed c r y i n g; a na t h at s he a p p e a r ed f r i g h t e n ed to P W 2 's o b s e r v a t i on w h en t h is r e p o rt w as m a de to h er by t he a c c u s e d. A s k ed by P W5 w hy t he a c c u s ed h ad k i l l ed ' M a n n e na a l s o, it is said he said "I k i l l ed h er b e c a u se s he s h o u t ed my n a m e ". A s k ed to e x p l a in w h at h a rm t h e re c o u ld h a ve b e en in ' M e n n e na s h o u t i ng t he a c c u s e d 's n a me t he C o u rt w as t o ld t h at t he a c c u s ed r e p l i ed as f o l l o ws : " A u nt I k i l l ed h er f or s he h ad said S o s o lo I k n ow Y ou a re t he o ne k i l l i ng my h u s b a n d ". y o u. T he a c c u s ed is k n o wn as S o s o l o. P W5 in t he p r e s e n ce of P W2 a d v i s ed t he a c c u s ed to go and r e p o rt h i m s e lf at t he p o l i ce s t a t i on at s u n r i s e. To t h is s u g g e s t i on it is said t he a c c u s ed a s k ed w hy he s h o u ld go to t he p o l i ce and w ho in a ny e v e nt w o u ld h a ve r e v e a l ed t h is w h o le m a t t e r. W h en P W5 s u g g e s t ed t h at P W3 a nd P W2 w o u ld t he a c c u s ed is said to h a ve said " if t h ey d a re r e v e al it I'll k i ll t h e m ". It is said t h at w h en P W5 i n s i s t ed t h at s he k n ew t h at t h e se c h i l d r en d o n 't k e ep s e c r e ts a nd t h at t h ey w o u ld r e v e al t h is t he a c c u s ed s o ld if he d id n ot k i ll P W2 and P W3 t h en on r e a c h i ng t he c h a r ge o f f i ce he w o u ld r e p o rt t h at P W3 a nd P W2 had a l r e a dy k i l l ed t he t wo d e c e a s e d. / T h en - 2 2- T h en P W2 and P W3 l e ft f or t h e ir o wn h o m e. T he a c c u s ed did n ot s t op t h e m. P W2 said Ha R a m p e li is c l o s er to S e h l a b a - s a - Ha R a n n oi t h an t he l a t t er is to Ha ' M a p a ne t he h o me v i l l a ge of P W 2. In t he m o r n i ng a c c o r d i ng to h is v e r s i on P W2 w e nt to t he h o me of P W7 o ne C h i r i ki in an a t t e m pt to r e p o rt a b o ut t h e se t wo d e c e a s e d. T h is a s p e ct of t he m a t t er is c o r r o b o r a t ed by P W7 as f o l l o ws :- "On S u n d ay P W2 c a me to m e. He t o ld me a b o ut t he f a ct t h at t he t wo d e c e a s ed h ad d i ed a nd h ow he c a me to k n ow a b o ut it f r om t he accused!'. S i g n i f i c a n t ly P W7 f o l l o w i ng t h is r e p o rt t o ok s o me s t e ps to i n q u i re f r om t he d e c e a s e d 's c h i l d r en a b o ut t he d e c e a s e d 's w h e r e a b o u ts as w e ll as to P W 5 's p l a ce w h e re t he a c c u s ed s t a y e d. P W5 g a ve him a r e p o r t. T he f o l l o w i ng d ay b e i ng a M o n d ay P W7 said he w e nt to h is c h i e f t a i n e s s 's p l a ce b ut on t he w ay he s aw p e o p le f r om c h i e f t a i n e ss ' M a b a t h o 's p l a ce m o v i ng in t he o p p o s i te d i r e c t i on in s e a r ch of t he d e c e a s e d. He said t he b o d i es w e re f o u nd on t h at M o n d a y. A p p a r e n t ly w h en he s aw t h is s e a r ch p a r ty he d i d n 't p r o c e ed to t he c h i e f t a i n e s s 's p l a ce and o n ly w e nt t h e re on T u e s d ay t he d ay f o l l o w i ng t he d i s c o v e ry of t he b o d i e s. He said he r e p o r t ed to t he c h i e f t a i n e ss w h at he had b e en t o ld by P W 2. P W3 d id c o r r o b o r a te P W 2 's s t o ry as to t he u t t e r a n c es m a de by t he a c c u s ed d u r i ng t he n i g ht at b o th t he s c e ne and at t he h o m es of P W4 and P W 5. T h e re w as h o w e v er s o me e l e m e nt of d i s c r e p a n c i es a b o ut t he f a te of t he w a t ch t h at t he d e c e a s ed P a b a l lo w as s t r i p p ed of by t he a c c u s e d. / T he - 2 3- T he t h r u st of t he C r o wn e v i d e n ce is t h at on t he S a t u r d ay w h en t h e re w as a r i t u al f e a st h e ld in o b s e r v a n ce of t he r e m o v al of t he m o u r i ng c l o th t he t wo d e c e a s ed w e re s e en l e a v i ng t he p l a ce of t he f e a st at Ha R a m p e li f or t h e ir h o m e. P W2 and P W3 hod b e en in t h at v i l l a ge a nd at t he h o me w h e re t h is f e a st w as h e l d. The t wo d e c e a s ed a s k ed P W2 and P W3 to a c c o m p a ny t h em b a ck h o me b ut PW2 and P W3 d e c l i n ed to do so s a y i ng t h ey w e re s t i ll b u sy d r i n k i n g. P W4 t o ld t he C o u rt t h at P W5 w h om s he h ad w a n t ed to go b a ck h o me w i th had d i s a p p e a r ed in t he v i l l a g e. So b e c a u se she w a n t ed to go home to Ha ' M a p o ne she a s k ed t he a c c u s ed to a c c o m p a ny h e r. W h en t he t wo had a p p r o a c h ed Ha ' M a p a no w i t h in s u ch d i s t a n ce t h at P W4 f e lt s a fe t he a c c u s ed w e nt back to Ha R a m p e l i. P W2 and P W3 t e s t i f i ed t h at t h ey l e ft Ha R a m p e li at a r o u nd 1 1 . 00 p . m. It w as w h i le t h ey w e re at K h a l o n g - l a - R a n n oi a p l a ce n e a r er to Ha R a m p e li t h an to Ha ' M a p a ne t h at t h ey h e a rd a w h i s t le w h i ch t h ey s o on r e a l i s ed c a me f r om t he a c c u s e d. I m ay j u st a t t a ch s o me s i g n i f i c a n ce f o l l o w i ng on t he r e l a t i ve d i s t a n c es b e t w e en Ha R a m p e li , S e h l a b a n e n g - s a - R a n n oi and Ha ' M a p a ne to t he f a ct t h at i n s t e ad of r u n n i ng t o w a r ds Ha ' M a p a ne w h i ch is h er h o me ' M a n n e na f l ed f r om h er h u s b a nd t o w a r ds Ha R a m p e li w h i ch w as n e a r er to S e h l a b a n a - s e - R a n n oi t h an w as Ha ' M a p a n e. P W2 and PW3 h e a rd t he a c c u s ed say he h ad d o ne s o m e t h i ng bad and a s h o rt d i s t a n ce a h e ad of t h em t h ey d i s c o v e r ed t he b o dy of ' M a n n e na w h i ch t he a c c u s ed o r d e r ed P W2 h e lp c a r ry and / d i s p o se o f. - 2 4- d i s p o se o f, W h en he e x p r e s s ed his f e ar and d i s i n c l i n a t i on to do so P W2 w as t h r e a t e n ed by the a c c u s e d, P W3 s u p p o r ts t h is v e r s i on of P W 2. A f t er t he b o dy of ' M a n n e na had b e en d i s p o s ed of her j e r s ey w h i ch had b e en left at t he s c e ne w as t a k en by t he a c c u s ed w ho f l u ng it in t he d e c e a s e d 's d i r e c t i o n. The a c c u s ed t o ok " S e n o k o n o k o" s h r u bs and s w e pt t he b l o od left w h e re t he d e c e a s ed had b e en r e m o v ed f r om and f u r t h er p l a c ed s t o n es t h e r e. T h e se t wo w i t n e s s es s u p p o rt e a ch o t h er again up to t h is p o i nt a l s o. T h ey a l so t e s t i f i ed t h at f r om t h e re t h ey p r o c e e d ed to the s e c o nd b o d y. T h e re t h ey saw t he a c c u s ed s e a r ch t he d e c e a s e d 's b o dy f or i t e ms of p r o p e r ty r e f e r r ed to e a r l i e r. T h en P W2 w as o r d e r ed to c a r ry the d e ad b o dy and w h en he o b j e c t ed he w as o n ce m o re t h r e a t e n ed w i th d e a th by t he a c c u s e d, he said. He t o ld t he C o u rt t h at he c a r r i ed t he b o dy by its f o ot w h i le t he a c c u s ed h e ld it by t he h e a d- e n d. P W2 is again s u p p o r t ed by P W3 in t h is r e g a r d. The C r o w n 's e v i d e n ce f u r t h er i n d i c a t ed t h at the s e c o nd d e c e a s e d 's w a t ch w as t a k en f r om the dead b o dy by t he a c c u s ed and g i v en to P W3 w ho w as a s k ed to t h r ow it a w ay but s he o n ly e f f e c t ed a m o ck e x e c u t i on of t h at m o v e m e n t. A f t er t he b o dy w as d e p o s i t ed in t he tall b u sh t he s h r ub w as u p r o o t ed to s w e ep b l o od f r om w h e re t he b o dy had b e en l y i ng b e f o re b e i ng h i d d en b e h i nd the b u s h. As t h is m a ke - s h i ft b r o om w as not e q u al to t he t a sk the a c c u s ed u s ed his f e et to k i ck s o ds on to t he b l o o d. The C r o wn c a se f u r t h er i n d i c a t ed t h at t he a c c u s ed / o r d e r ed -25- o r d e r ed t h at t h is p a r ty w h i c h / h ad j o i n ed s h o u ld go a l o ng w i th h im h o m e. T he f i r st p o rt of c a ll w as P W 4 's p l a ce w h e re t he a c c u s ed c a l l ed o ut P W 4 's n a me a nd g a ve h er a r e p o rt a b o ut t he f a te of t he t wo d e c e a s e d. P W4 t e s t i f i ed to t h is r e p o rt a nd P W2 a nd P W3 c o n f i r m ed t h at s u ch a r e p o rt w as m a de w i t h in t h e ir h e a r i ng by t he a c c u s ed to P W 4. T h e se p e o p le w e re t h en a s k ed by t he a c c u s ed to go to P W 5 's p l a c e. T he a c c u s ed u s i ng t h e se p e o p le to e n t i ce P W5 to c o me o ut as he f a l s e ly said t h ey w e re h er v i s i t o rs obtained e n t r a n ce i n to P W 5 's f l at r o o f ed h ut as w e ll as h er a u d i e n c e. T h us w i t h in t he h e a r i ng of P W 2, P W3 a nd P W4 he r e p e a t ed w h at he h ad r e p o r t ed to P W4 t h at he h ad k i l l ed t he t wo d e c e a s e d. A s k ed w hy he d id so he is said to h a ve r e p l i ed t h at P a b a l lo w as m a k i ng l i fe d i f f i c u lt f or h i m. A s k ed w hy ' M a n n e na a l so w as k i l l ed he is said to h a ve r e p l i ed t h at ' M a n n e na h ad s e en h im k i ll P a b a l lo so he f e a r ed t h at s he h ad r e c o g n i s ed h im f or s he e v en c a l l ed o ut h is n a m e. T he C r o wn s u b m i t t ed t h at it w o u ld s e em t he main or o n ly r e a s on ' M a n n e na w as k i l l ed w as to s i l e n ce h e r. W i t n e s s es w ho h ad t e s t i f i ed up to t h is p o i nt a re a g r e ed on it i n c l u d i ng t he a c c u s e d 's a u nt P W5 w ho is n ot o n ly h is r e l a t i ve b ut a p p e a rs to h a ve a l so b o on t he a c c u s e d 's b r e ad t i c k et as w e ll as p r o v i d i ng h im w i th s h e l t er f or e v i d e n ce s h o w ed t h at in t h o se r a re i n t e r v a ls w h en he c o u ld be said to be w o r k i ng he w o u ld be s e l l i ng o r a n g es f or P W7 a m e an j ob t h at c o u ld h a r d ly m e et a m a n 's n e e d s. L i t t le w o n d er t h at m o st of t he t i me ho w as s e en o r d e r i ng d r i n ks on t i ck at P W 4 's b e er s e l l i ng p l a c e. It is d i f f i c u lt to s ee h ow in t he a b s e n ce of b ad b l o od b e t w e en P W5 a nd t he a c c u s ed s he c o u ld c o me a nd l ie a b o ut h im as it w as / s u g g e s t ed - 2 6- s u g g e s t ed t h r o u gh c r o s s - e x a m i n a t i on on t he a c c u s e d 's b e h a l f. As a f u r t h er m a rk of a b s e n ce of a ny g r u d ge b o r ne t he a c c u s ed by P W5 w h en s he h e a rd t he a c c u s e d 's s t o ry s he a d v i s ed h im to s u r r e n d er h i m s e lf to t he p o l i c e. B ut t he r e p l y, I am t o l d, w as " w hy go to t he p o l i c e? w ho w o u ld r e v e al t h i s ?" I w as f u r t h er t o ld t h at t he a c c u s ed w o nt f u r t h er to t h r e a t en t h at w h o e v er w o u ld d i s c l o se h is s e c r et w o u ld s u f f er t he c o n s e q u e n c es f or t he a c c u s ed w o u ld t u rn s t a te w i t n e ss a nd t he c u l p r it w o u ld f i nd h i m s e lf c h a r g ed w i th t he m u r d e rs c o m m i t t e d. T he a c c u s ed w ho t he w i t n e s s es s ay h ad r e p o r t ed t h at he h ad k i l l ed t he t wo d e c e a s ed h ad t h r e a t e n ed t h at he w o u ld t u rn s t a te w i t n e ss against w h o e v er w o u ld r e v e al t h is d a rk s e c r e t. M r. Q h o m a ne a c c o r d i n g ly s u b m i t t ed t h at it w o u ld a p p e ar a s c a re h ad s u r r o u n d ed t h e se p e o p le f or none of t h em r e p o r t ed q u i c k l y. As s t a t ed e a r l i er o ne p o s i t i ve p r o of of a r e p o rt m a de w as by P W2 w h o se a ct is c o n f i r m ed by P W 7. T he l a t t er said he in t u rn t o ok t h is up w i th t he c h i e f t a i n e ss t h o u gh o n ly t he f o l l o w i ng d a y. In t he s h a rp t w i s ts a nd t u r ns of e v e n ts P W7 failed to a c h i e ve h is m i s s i on w h i ch w o u ld h a ve h e l p ed d i s c o v er t he d e ad b o d i es b e f o re a n y b o dy e l se h ad d o ne so b e c a u se w h en he w e nt to t he c h i e f t a i n e s s 's he f o l l o w ed t he c l a r i on c a ll s t a t i ng t h at t he b o d i es h ad b e en d i s c o v e r e d. He o n ly w e nt a d ay a f t er t he d i s c o v e ry to t he c h i e f t a i n e s s 's p l a ce a b o ut w h at P W2 h ad t o ld h i m. T he f e a st h ad b e en on S a t u r d a y. T he b o d i es w e re d i s c o v e r ed on M o n d a y. T h is is t he d ay w h i ch t he p o l i ce / t e s t i f i ed - 2 7- t e s t i f i ed t h ey c a me to t he s c e ne on a nd f o u nd p e o p le a l r e a dy g a t h e r ed at t he s c e n e. It w o u ld s e em d e s p i te t he v i g o r o us c r o s s - e x a m i n a t i on he w as s u b j e c t ed to as to d a t es P W 7 's s t o ry is c o n s i s t e nt w i th t he t r ue s e q u e n ce of e v e n ts a nd d a t es of t h e ir o c c u r r e n c e s. T r o o p er S e e i so t e s t i f i ed t h at s u b s e q u e n t ly t he a c c u s ed t o ok h im to a s p ot a r o u nd t he s c e ne and p o i n t ed o ut a k n i fe h a n d le w h i ch t he a c c u s ed said w as u s ed in t he k i l l i ng of ' M a n n e n a. Ah a t t e m pt w as m a de to d i s a l l ow t he e v i d e n ce r e l a t i ng to t he a c c u s e d 's a l l e g ed s t a t e m e nt t h at he u s ed t h is k n i fe to k i ll ' M a n n e na b ut it a p p e a r ed t h at t he A u t h o r i ty of R ex vs P e t l a ne 7 1 - 73 L LR 85 m i l i t a t ed against t h at a t t e m pt f or no e v i d e n ce s h o w ed t h at in m a k i ng t he s t a t e m e nt t he a c c u s ed c o n v e y ed t he m e a n i ng t h at he d id so i n t e n t i o n a l ly or n ot f or p u r p o s es of d e f e n d i ng h i m s e l f. T he a c c u s ed h ad a c c o r d i ng to T r o o p er S e e i so i n d i c a t ed t h at t h is k n i fe h ad g ot b r o k en in t he p r o c e ss of u se in t he k i l l i ng of ' M a n n e n a. P W2 w as a l so s u b j e c t ed to v i g o r o us c r o s s - e x a m i n a t i on t he t e n or of w h i ch w as t h at t he a c c u s ed d e n i es m e e t i ng P W2 t h at d ay at t he s c e n e. F u r t h er t h at t he a c c u s ed d e n i es h a v i ng b e en at t he s c e ne at a l l. H is s h i e ld against P W 2 's i m p l i c a t i o ns against h im b e i ng t h at he h ad a c c o m p a n i ed P W4 a nd n e v er c a me b a ck t h e r e. T he C r o wn a c c o r d i n g ly e x p r e s s ed t he v i ew t h at w i th t h is b a c k g r o u nd a nd c o n s i s t e n t ly w i th q u e s t i o ns p ut to t he C r o wn w i t n e s s es o ne w o u ld e x p e ct t he a c c u s ed to r i se to t he o c c a s i on a nd t e ll t he C o u rt d i f f e r e n t ly f r om t he C r o wn w i t n e s s es to w h o se t e s t i m o ny h is c h a l l e n ge t h r o u gh h is C o u n s el s u g g e s t ed t h e se C r o wn w i t n e s s es w e re f r a m i ng h i m. T he l aw / h o w e v er - 2 8- h o w e v er p l a c es no b u r d en on t he a c c u s ed to p r o ve h is i n n o c e n c e. T he o n us is on t he C r o wn t h r o u g h o ut to p r o ve the a c c u s e d 's g u i lt b e y o nd r e a s o n a b le d o u b t. E v en if t he C r o w n 's e v i d e n ce is an u n s h a k e a b le e d i f i ce of t r u th a ny r e a s o n a b le d o u bt t h at c an a r i se is to r e d o u nd to t he a c c u s e d 's b e n e f it w h i ch s h o u ld l e ad to h is a c q u i t t a l. T he C r o wn p o i n t ed o ut t h at P W2 w as a d a m a nt t h at t he a c c u s ed w es t h e re a nd he s aw h im as w e ll as h e a rd h im s ay t h i n gs he is a l l e g ed to h a ve said a nd do t h i n gs he is a l l e g ed to h a ve d o n e. It w as a l l e g ed t h at P W2 h ad f a l s e ly i m p l i c a t ed the a c c u s ed b e c a u se P W2 h ad d e s i g ns o v er a g i rl t he a c c u s ed l o v e d. B ut P W2 said he h ad no s u ch i n t e n t i o ns t o w a r ds t h at g i r l. He explained t h at t he a c c u s ed is m e r e ly m a k i ng a s c a p e - g o at of h i m. I n d e ed if P W2 a nd P W3 c an be said to h a ve s o me m o t i ve to i m p l i c a te t he a c c u s ed f a l s e ly P W4 a nd P W5 c a n n o t, b e c a u se P W5 is t he a c c u s e d 's a u nt w ho h as b e en s h o wn to l i ve w i th t he a c c u s ed p r o v i d i ng h im w i th s h e l t er a nd w ho h as b e en s h o wn to be p a r t i c u l a r ly f a v o u r ed by the a c c u s ed w ho it h as b e en s h o wn w o u ld s u f f er n o b o dy to m a ke h er l i fe d i f f i c u l t. T h us P W5 a nd t he a c c u s ed a re s h o wn in t h e se p r o c e e d i n gs as p e o p le w ho maintained v e ry c o r d i al r e l a t i o n- s h i p s. L i k e w i se P W4 c a n n ot be a c c u s ed of b e a r i ng t he a c c u s ed a ny b ad b l o od f or t h e ir r e l a t i o n s h i ps h a ve b e en s h o wn as f r i e n d ly so m u ch so t h at t he a c c u s ed w as a l l o w ed to d r i nk at P W 4 's p l a ce on c r e d i t. F u r t h e r m o re e v i d e n ce of h is h a v i ng l e ft h is h at at P W 4 's h as b e en e s t a b l i s h e d. No s u g g e s t i on h as b e en m a de t h at he h ad b e en f o r c ed by P W4 to p l e d ge t h at h at b e c a u se of h is f a i l u re to p ay up f or d r i n ks at h er p l a c e. It w as s u b m i t t ed on b e h a lf of t he C r o wn t h at t he e v i d e n ce a d d u c ed m u st be c o n s i d e r ed in i ts t o t a l i ty i n s t e ad / of - 2 9- of p i e c e m e al in o r d er to d e t e r m i ne i ts c r e d i b i l i t y. It w as p o i n t ed o ut t h at t i me a nd again t he C r o wn w i t n e s s es w e re t a u n t ed as to t i m es and l e n g t hs of d i s t a n c es a nd t h e ir r e s p e c t i ve d i f f e r e n c e s. T h e , s u b m i s s i on m a de in t he c i r c u m s t a n c es w as t h at t he C r o wn e v i d e n ce s t a n ds u n c h a l l e n g ed a nd f u r t h er t h at it is a l so c r e d i b l e. T he C o u rt w as t o ld t h at all of t he C r o wn w i t n e s s es a c q u i t t ed t h e m s e l v es w e ll w i th r e g a rd to c r e d i b i l i ty c o n t r a ry to s u g g e s t i o ns m a de on b e h a lf of t he a c c u s e d. I n d e ed c r e d it is w e ll - e a r n ed by the d e f e n ce C o u n s e l 's a b i l i ty to p e r f o rm t he t a sk of p u t t i ng t he a c c u s e d 's v e r s i on to the C r o wn w i t n e s s es c o n s i s t e n t ly w i th t he p r i n c i p le laid d o wn in P h a l o a no vs R ex 1 9 8 1 ( 2) L LR at 2 46 a nd S m a ll vs S m i th 1 9 5 4 ( 3) at 4 3 4. T he v e r s i on t h us p ut w as t h at t he a c c u s ed w as g o i ng to s ay he w as n e v er t h e re a nd t h at t h e re w e re n e v er a ny m e e t i n gs at P W 5 's a nd P W 4 's w h e re he p a r t i c i p a t e d. T he C r o wn c o n t e n d ed t h at e v en if it w e re to be a s s u m ed t h at t h e re w e re c o n t r a d i c t i o ns in t he C r o w n 's v e r s i on of e v e n ts t h ey w e re of s u ch a m i n or n a t u re as n ot to d e t r a ct f r om t he main t h r u st of t he C r o wn c a se a nd t he u n d e r l y i ng s u b s t r a t um of t he t r u th u p on w h i ch it is b a s e d. T he C r o wn s u b m i t t ed t h at c o n t r a d i c t i o ns p o i n t ed o ut as to w h at w as said at P W 5 's or P W 4 's w e re so m i n or as n ot to be l i g h t ly a l l o w ed to d e f l e ct t he c o u r se of j u s t i c e. In r e s p o n se to the d e f e n c e 's a t t e m pt to d i s c r e d it as l i es P W 5 's v e r s i on on t he b a s is t h at w h at s he h ad said at P , E. f e ll f ar s h o rt of w h at s he said b e f o re t h is C o u rt I w as r e f e r r ed to C R I / T / 7 3 / 89 R ex v. L e p h o to ( u n r e p o r t e d) c i t ed w i th a p p r o v al by t h is C o u rt in C R I / T / 5 8 / 90 R ex v. M o h o l a. / T h us - 3 0- T h us t he C r o wn s u b m i t t ed t h at in t h is c a se w h a t e v er c an be said to be s o me n ew m a t t er c a n n ot p r o p e r ly be r e g a r d ed as an a f t e r t h o u g ht b e c a u se it w as e l i c i t ed u n d er c r o s s - e x a m i n a t i o n. T h us t he p e r e n n i al a d a ge is in p o i nt h e re n a m e ly t h at a f i s h e r m an s h o u ld n ot b l a me h is n e ts if in s i n k i ng t h em in t he w a t er w i th t he h o pe of c a t c h i ng f i sh t h ey c o me up containing s e r p e n ts i n s t e a d. It w as s u b m i t t ed t h at t he c r ux of t he m a t t er is t h at t he C r o wn w i t n e s s e s' v e r s i on is n ot o n ly c r e d i b le b ut is c o r r o b o r a t ed in all m a t e r i al r e s p e c t s. P W2 h as b e en c o r r o b o r a t ed by P W3 a b o ut t he e v e n ts t h at t o ok p l a ce at t he s c e n e. P W4 a nd P W5 c o r r o b o r a t ed t h em t h at t he a c c u s ed a d m i t t ed h a v i ng k i l l ed t he t wo d e c e a s e d. T h e r e f o re a ny a p p a r e nt c o n t r a d i c t i o ns a re of no s i g n i f i c a n c e. In c r o s s - e x a m i n a t i on of t he C r o wn w i t n e s s es it a p p e a r ed t h at t he a c c u s ed d e n i ed e v e r y t h i n g. At t he e nd of t he d a y, as i n d e ed is h is r i g h t, he c h o se n ot to go i n to t he w i t n e s s 's b ox a nd t e s t i f y. T he C r o wn s u b m i t t ed t h at if i n d e ed t he C r o w n 's e v i d e n ce is c r e d i b le a nd a s t r o ng p r i ma f a c ie c a se w as m a de by t he C r o wn it w o u ld h a ve b e en to t he a c c u s e d 's c r e d it if he m a de an a t t e m pt to a n s w er w h at t he C r o wn w i t n e s s es said against h im m o re e s p e c i a l l y, if I m ay a d d, t h at h is s t o ry n e ed n ot be t r ue as l o ng as it is r e a s o n a b ly p o s s i b ly t r u e. P o i n t i ng o ut t h at s i l e n ce is no a d m i s s i on of t he c o m m i s s i on of t he o f f e n ce t he C r o wn s u b m i t t ed t h at h o w e v e r, if t he C r o w n 's c a se w as m a de at t h at t i me t he a c c u s ed s h o u ld h a ve s t o od up to r e b ut i t. In d o i ng s o, p r o v i d ed t he C r o wn h ad m a de i ts c a se at t h at s t a g e, it c o u ld n ot be said t h at t he C r o wn w as l o o k i ng f o r w a rd to h a v i ng i ts c a se s u p p l e m e n t ed by t he d e f e n c e 's v e r s i o n. / T he -31- T he C r o wn s u b m i t t ed t h at t he a c c u s ed w as p e r f e c t ly e n t i t l ed to remain s i l e nt if he t h o u g ht t he C r o wn h ad n ot m a de o ut a c a se against h i m. B ut t he C r o wn had in t h is c a s e, M r. Q h o m a ne s u b m i t t e d. In s u p p o rt of t he a b o ve s u b m i s s i on t he C r o wn r e p o s ed i ts f a i th in t he s t a t e m e nt a p p e a r i ng in C r i m i n al L aw a nd P r o c e d u re T h r o u gh C a s es ( by M o f o k e ng J as he t h en w a s) at p a ge 2 16 w h e re u n d er t he t i t le A C C U S E D 'S R I G HT TO S I L E N CE A ND I N F E R E N CE W H I CH M AY BE D R A WN T H E R E F R OM a p p e a rs t he f o l l o w i ng ; " T he f a i l u re of an a c c u s ed to g i ve e v i d e n ce certain m a y, in f a c t or in d e t e r m i n i ng w h e t h er h is g u i lt h as b e en p r o v ed b e y o nd r e a s o n a b le d o u b t ." c i r c u m s t a n c e s, be t a k en as a R e f e r e n ce in S. vs K h o mo & O t h e rs 1 9 7 5 ( 1) SA 3 44 at 3 4 5 - 3 46 s h o ws t h at :- " It is w e ll k n o wn t h at an a c c u s ed p e r s o n, a l t h o u gh remains n ot o b l i g ed to s ay a n y t h i n g, m ay n e v e r t h e l e ss s i l e n t. a s s i st t he S t a te c a se w h en he W h en I s ay he m ay a s s i st t he S t a te c a s e, I m e an no m o re t h an t h at h is s i l e n ce is o ne of t he f a c t o rs w h i ch m ay be t a k en i n to a c c o u nt in a s s e s s i ng t he w e i g ht of t he e v i d e n ce in i ts t o t a l i t y, a nd m ay be g i v en s o me w e i g h t, d e p e n d i ng u p on t he f a c ts a nd c i r c u m s t a n c e s. In g e n e r a l, g r e a t er w e i g ht w i ll be a t t a c h ed to s i l e n ce w h e re t h e re is d i r e ct t e s t i m o ny i m p l i c a t i ng t he a c c u s e d, w h i ch t he C o u rt c o u ld r e a s o n a b ly e x p e ct he w o u ld e x p l a in a w ay if it w e re n ot t r u e, t h an in a c a se w h e re t h e re is no s u ch d i r e ct e v i d e n c e, a nd w h e re t he q u e s t i on of h is g u i lt or o t h e r w i se d e p e n ds u p on i n f e r e n t i al r e a s o n i ng c a se an a c c u s ed p e r s on m i g ht w e ll t a ke up t he a t t i t u de t h at he c o n c e d es all t he f a c ts p r o v e d, b ut he c h a l l e n g es t he a b i l i ty of t he C o u rt to d r aw an i n f e r e n ce of g u i lt f r om t he f a c t s, a n d, if t h at is h is v i e w, h is f a i l u re to g i ve e v i d e n ce m ay n ot be a t t r i b u t a b le to a ny c o n s c i o u s n e ss of g u i lt on h is p a r t, b ut to h is c o n f i d e n ce t h at t he e v i d e n ce d o es n ot e s t a b l i sh g u i lt a nd d o es n ot r e q u i re to be a n s w e r e d ." In s u ch a / T he - 3 2- T he C r o wn a c c o r d i n g ly s u b m i t t ed t h at t he a c c u s e d 's f a i l u re to t e s t i fy h as a s s i s t ed t he S t a te c a se w i t h in t he q u a l i f i ed m e a n i ng of t h at p h r a se in t he a b o ve a u t h o r i ty b ut in so s a y i ng M r. Q h o m a ne w as q u i ck to s ay t he a c c u s e d 's s i l e n ce had n ot h e l p ed s u p p l e m e nt t he C r o w n 's c a se b e c a u se at t he c l o se of t he c a se f or t he C r o wn s t r o ng p r i ma f a c ie c a se w as a l r e a dy f i r m ly in e x i s t e n c e. H a v i ng a d d r e s s ed t he C o u rt on b u r d en of p r o of l e a r n ed C o u n s el f or t he C r o wn s u b m i t t ed t h at s u ch p r o of r e s ts on t he C r o wn b ut t h e re is a l so t he q u e s t i on of e v i d e n t i al b u r d en in r e s p e ct of w h i ch t he C o u rt w as r e f e r r ed to E v i d e n ce by S . E. v an d er M e r we et al at p a ge 4 17 s a y i ng : " T he S t a te w i ll h a ve e s t a b l i s h ed a p r i ma f a c ie c a s e; an e v i d e n t i al b u r d en (or d u ty to a d d u ce e v i d e n ce to c o m b at a p r i ma f a c ie c a se m a de by h is o p p o n e n t . . . .) w i ll h a ve c o me i n to e x i s t e n ce i . e. it w i ll h a ve In s h i f t e d, or b e en t r a n s f e r r e d, to t he a c c u s e d. o t h er w o r d s, a r i sk of f a i l u re w i ll h a ve b e en c a st u p on h i m. T he o n us s t i ll r e s ts on t he S t a t e; b u t, if t he r i sk of l o s i ng is n ot to t u rn i n to t he a c t u a l i ty of l o s i n g, t he a c c u s ed w i ll h a ve t he d u ty to a d d u ce e v i d e n c e, if he w i s h es to be a c q u i t t e d, so t h a t, at t he e nd of t he c a s e, t he C o u rt is l e ft w i th a r e a s o n a b le d o u bt " In C. of A. ( C R I) N o .5 of 1 9 80 K h o a b a ne S e l lo vs R ex ( u n r e p o r t e d) at p .4 S c h u tz J . A ., as he t h en w a s, said : " T h e re w as t h e r e f o r e, in my v i e w, n ot m e r e ly a p r i ma f a c ie C r o wn c a s e, b ut o ne of c o n s i d e r a b le w e i g ht to w h i ch a r e a s o n a b ly a c c e p t a b le a n s w er B ut t h en t he a p p e l l a nt d id c o u ld be e x p e c t e d. f a il to g i ve e v i d e n ce w h i ch w o u ld h a ve l e ft t he C o u rt to d e c i de w h e t h er s p e c u l a t i ve e x p l a n a t i o ns c o u ld r e a s o n a b ly p o s s i b ly be t r u e . . . ." - 3 3- I h a ve a l so h ad r e f e r e n ce to S O U TH A F R I C AN L AW OF E V I D E N CE by H O F F M A NN 3 rd E d. at p . 3 86 w h e re t he q u e s t i on of o n us as d i s t i n ct f r om e v i d e n t i al b u r d en h as b e en d i s c u s s e d. T he C r o wn a c c o r d i n g ly s u b m i t t ed t h at t he a c c u s ed had a d u ty to r e b ut e v i d e n ce a d d u c ed by t he C r o wn in o r d er f or t he e v i d e n t i al b u r d en w h i ch had s h i f t ed to h im to be d i s c h a r g e d. It w as a r g u ed by t he C r o wn t h at e v en a s s u m i ng t he t e n or of h is i n s t r u c t i on to h is C o u n s el had an e l e m e nt of t r u th in it to t he e f f e ct t h at he w as n ot t h e re ( m e a n i ng he p l e a ds an a l i b i) t he a c c u s ed s h o u ld h a ve c a l l ed e v i d e n ce s u p p o r t i ng h i m. I d o u bt t he v a l i d i ty of t h is s u b m i s s i o n. In s u p p o rt of t he o t h er p r o p o s i t i on r e g a r d i ng f a i l u re to g i ve e v i d e n ce I w as r e f e r r ed to p a ge 4 70 of t he i n v a l u a b le w o r ks of H o f f m a n n. S ee S. vs T h e r on 1 9 6 8 ( 4) SA at 6 1. In s u p p o rt of t h is p r o p o s i t i on H o f f m a nn a nd Z e f f e r tt s ay : "If a w i t n e ss h as g i v en e v i d e n ce d i r e c t ly i m p l i c a t i ng A l t h o u gh e v i d e n ce d o es n ot the a c c u s e d, he c an s e l d om a f f o rd to l e a ve s u ch t e s t i m o ny u n a n s w e r e d. h a ve to be a c c e p t ed m e r e ly b e c a u se it is u n c o n t r o d i c t e d, t he c o u rt is u n l i k e ly to r e j e ct e v i d e n ce w h i ch t he a c c u s ed h i m s e lf h as c h o s en n ot to d e n y. t e s t i fy is a l m o st b o u nd to s t r e n g t h en t he c a se f or t he p r o s e c u t i o n. In s u ch c a s es t he a c c u s e d 's f a i l u re to against An a c c u s e d 's f a i l u re to t e s t i fy c an be u s ed as a f a c t or t he S t a te h as p r i ma f a c ie d i s c h a r g ed t he o n us t h at r e s ts on it it c a n n o t, t h e r e f o re be u s ed to s u p p ly a d e f i c i e n cy in t he c a se f or t he S t a te o n ly w h en h im r e a s o n a b le m an c o u ld w h e re t h e re is no e v i d e n ce on w h i ch a c o n v i c t ". It is i m p o r t a nt to n o te t h at g o i ng f u r t h er t he / l e a r n ed - 3 4- l e a r n ed a u t h o rs s ay at 4 70 :- " T he s i t u a t i on is r a t h er d i f f e r e nt w h en t he e v i d e n ce t he a c c u s ed is n ot d i r e ct b ut c i r c u m s t a n t i a l. against If t he p r o s e c u t i on h as p r o v ed s u s p i c i o us c i r c u m s t a n c es w h i ch t he a c c u s e d, if i n n o c e n t, c o u ld r e a s o n a b ly be e x p e c t ed to a n s w er or e x p l a i n, h is f a i l u re to t e s t i fy w i ll s t r e n g t h en a ny u n f a v o u r a b le i n f e r e n c es w h i ch c an p r o p e r ly be d r a wn f r om t he p r o s e c u t i on e v i d e n c e ". T he C r o wn f u r t h er r e p o s ed s o me r e l i a n ce on c o n s e q u e n c es of f a i l u re to c a ll w i t n e s s es a nd a c c o r d i n g ly s u b m i t t ed t h at e v en if t he a c c u s ed t e s t i f i ed h is e x p l a n a t i on w o u ld n ot c a r ry w e i g ht u n l e ss he explained w h e re he w as a nd d o i ng at t he t i me in q u e s t i o n. S ee R. vs B e g u i d e n h o ut 1 9 5 4 ( 3) SA at 1 8 8. T he C o u rt w as r e f e r r ed to S t a te vs K e l ly 1 9 8 0 ( 3 ) ( A D) at 301 to c o u n t e r - a t t a ck t he d e f e n c e 's c r i t i c i sm of C r o wn w i t n e s s es as u n i m p r e s s i v e. T he f a m o us s t a t e m e nt to be e x t r a c t ed f r om t h is a u t h o r i ty is t h at c r e d i b i l i ty c a n n ot be a s u b s t i t u te f or e v i d e n ce a d d u c e d. L e a r n ed C o u n s el f or t he C r o wn i n v i t ed t he C o u rt so to f i n d. S ee a l so R. vs R a m a t la C R I / T / 1 5 / 88 ( u n r e p o r t e d ). T he l e a r n ed C o u n s el f or t he C r o wn s u b m i t t ed t h at on t he b a s is t h at t he a c c u s ed f o i l ed to a v a il h i m s e lf of t he o p p o r t u n i ty to e x p l a in a w ay s e r i o us a l l e g a t i o ns m a de against h im by C r o wn w i t n e s s es w ho o u t l i n ed c i r c u m s t a n c es in w h i ch t he a c c u s e d 's c o n d u ct w as at i s s u e, a d v e r se i n f e r e n ce s h o u ld a c c o r d i n g ly be d r a wn against h i m. I n d e ed P W2 w as i n t r o d u c ed as an a c c o m p l i ce w ho a c t ed as an a c c e s s o ry a f t er t he f a ct in b o th m u r d e r s. S ee S e c t i on 2 39 of o ur C r i m i n al P r o c e d u re a nd E v i d e n c e. H o w e v er in h is f i n al a d d r e ss M r. Q h o m a ne s u b m i t t ed t h at a m p le e v i d e n ce s h o w ed / t h at - 3 5- t h at it is t he a c c u s ed a l o ne w ho is a c c o u n t a b le f or t he t wo m u r d e r s. He f u r t h er s t a t ed t h at e v en if P W2 w h om he r e l u c t a n t ly r e f e rs to as an a c c o m p l i ce w as t he o n ly o ne w ho t e s t i f i ed t he C o u rt w o u ld h a ve b e en e n t i t l ed to c o n v i ct on h is s o le e v i d e n c e. B ut as a c r e d it to t he C r o w n 's c a se P W2 h as b e en c o r r o b o r a t ed by t h r ee o t h er i n d e p e n d e nt w i t n e s s es b e s i d es P W 3. S ee p a ge 88 of M o f o k e ng J's r e f e r e n ce w h e re t he p o s i t i on e x t r a c t ed f r om s t a t u te is laid d o wn at p a ge 89 as f o l l o ws : " A ny C o u rt w h i ch is t r y i ng a ny p e r s on on a c h a r ge of m u r d er or any o f f e n ce m ay c o n v i ct h im of a ny h im o f f e n ce a l l e g ed e v i d e n ce of a ny a c c o m p l i c e. against on t he s i n g le P r o v i d ed t h at t he o f f e n ce h a s, by c o m p e t e nt e v i d e n c e, o t h er t h an t he s i n g le and u n c o n f i r m ed e v i d e n ce of t he a c c o m p l i c e, b e en p r o v ed to t he s a t i s f a c t i on of s u ch C o u rt to h a ve b e en a c t u a l ly c o m m i t t e d ". T he C r o wn s u b m i t t ed t h at P W2 s h o u ld be r e g a r d ed as a r e l i a b le w i t n e ss w ho s t o od v i g o r o us c r o s s - e x a m i n a t i on f or t wo d a ys w i t h o ut h is c r e d i b i l i ty b e i ng s h a k e n. I n s t e ad he w as c o r r o b o r a t ed by o t h er i n d e p e n d e nt w i t n e s s e s. T he C o u rt h as b e en a l i ve to t he s u b m i s s i on by t he C r o wn t h at w h i le t r e a t i ng P W 2 's e v i d e n ce w i th d ue c a u t i on t he C o u rt s h o u ld n ot o v e r l o ok t he e x i s t e n ce of o t h er c o r r o b o r a t i ve e v i d e n c e. I s h o u ld p o i nt o ut t h at r e f e r e n c e s , / s u b m i s s i o n s, to d u r i ng p o r t i o ns of an a f f i d a v it d e p o s ed to by t he a c c u s ed w h en a p p l y i ng f or bail a nd w h i ch t e n d ed to c o t r a d i ct t he v e r s i on p ut to C r o wn w i t n e s s es t h at he w as n ot at t he s c e ne a re r u l ed / o ut - 3 6- o ut b e c a u se t he C r o wn did n ot b r i ng t h is by w ay of e v i d e n ce w h i ch t he a c c u s ed s h o u ld p r o p e r ly h a ve f e lt d i s p o s ed to c h a l l e n ge if ho w i s h e d. T he C r o wn n o n e t h e l e ss s u b m i t t ed t h at e v en w i t h o ut r e f e r e n ce to t h at a f f i d a v it t he C o u rt s h o u ld f i nd t h at i ts c a se s t o od on f i rm g r o u n d. It is c o m m on c a u se t h at t he d e f e n ce c l o s ed i ts c a se i m m e d i a t e ly at t he c l o se of t he C r o wn c a s e. M r. P h o o f o lo in r e p ly to t he s u b m i s s i o ns m a de by t he C r o wn s u b m i t t ed t h at t he c a se b e i ng d e a lt w i th h e re is a c i r c u m s t a n t i al o ne in t h at n o b o dy w i t n e s s ed t he k i l l i n g s; or f o u nd t he a c c u s ed at t he s c e n e, n or w e re t h e re a ny t e ll t a le i n d i c a t i o ns in a c c u s e d 's p o s s e s s i on to l i nk h im w i th t he d e a t hs of t he t wo d e c e a s e d. He s u b m i t t ed t h at f r om t he m a n n er d e s c r i b ed of h ow t he d e c e a s ed w e re c a r r i ed and t he f a ct t h at t h ey w e re said to h a ve b e en b l o o dy o ne w o u ld h a ve e x p e c t ed t he w i t n e s s es at P W 4 's a nd P W 5 's to h a ve n o t i c ed b l o od on t he a c c u s e d. W i th r e s p e ct to t he d e c e a s ed P a b a l lo L e h l o h o n o lo M o l o c he t he m e d i c al r e p o rt w h i ch w as h a n d ed in m a r k ed " B" j u st b e f o re t he C r o wn c l o s ed i ts c a se a nd in t e r ms of S e c t i on 2 2 3 ( 7) of t he C r i m i n al P r o c e d u re a nd E v i d e n ce A ct it w as s h o wn t h at d e a th w as d ue to o p en h e ad i n j u r y. As to e x t e r n al a p p e a r a n c es t he d o c t or o b s e r v ed an o p en c ut w o u nd on f o re h e a d. The s k u ll w as c r a c k ed on l e ft s i de a nd t he m a n d i b le w as f r a c t u r e d. T he d o c t o r 's o b s e r v a t i o ns c o n c e r n i ng t he s k u ll a re t h at t he l e ft t e m p o r al b o ne w as g r o s s ly c r a c k ed u p, and e x t e n d i ng to f r o n t al b o n e. T h e re w as e x t e n s i ve d a m a ge to brain t i s s u e. / W i th r e g a rd - 3 7- W i th r e g a rd to t he d e a th of M a n n e na t he d o c t o r 's p o st m o r t em r e p o rt s h o ws t h at it w as d ue to an o p en h e ad i n j u r y. E x t e r n al a p p e a r a n c es r e v e a l ed c r a c k ed s k u ll on l e ft s i de a nd l a c e r a t i on of t he u p p er l i p. T he r e p o rt f u r t h er i n d i c a t ed t h at t he l e ft t e m p o r al b o ne w as g r o s s ly c r a c k ed w i th brain t i s s ue s t i c k i ng o u t. M r. P h o o f o lo t o ok i s s ue w i th t he p o l i ce w ho t e s t i f i ed f or t he C r o wn on t he q u e s t i on of t he n a t u re and n u m b er of i n j u r i es o b s e r v ed by t h em as against t h o se o b s e r v ed by t he d o c t or a nd r e c o r d ed in h is t wo p o st m o r t em r e p o r t s. T he l e a r n ed c o u n s el s u b m i t t ed t h at t he c o n t r a d i c t i o ns b e t w e en t he d o c t o r 's v e r s i on and t h e se t wo w i t n e s s e s' v e r s i o ns w as t oo w i d e. It w as s u b m i t t ed t h at b e c a u se t he d o c t o r 's f i n d i ng as to t he c a u se of d e a th in b o th c a s es w as m o st p e r f u n c t o ry d e s c r i b i ng t he c a u se of d e a th in b o th c a s es as an " o p en h e ad i n j u r y" l e a r n ed c o u n s el s u b m i t t ed t he e x a m i n a t i on w as n ot s a t i s f a c t o ry t h e r e f o re in t he e v e nt t he C o u rt c o n c l u d ed t h at t he a c c u s ed w as l i a b le t he s c a l es m u st be t i l t ed in h is f a v o ur b e c a u se t he d o c t or h ad failed to c o n d u ct t h o r o u gh f o r e n s ic e x a m i n a t i o ns of t he d e ad b o d i e s. It w as p o i n t ed o ut t he d o c t or d id n ot s ay w h e re e x a c t ly t he i n j u r i es w h i ch c a u s ed t he d e a t hs w e r e. S ee L e t u ma vs R ex 1 9 76 L L R ( l ) at 1 1. It w as i n d i c a t ed t h at w h i le P W 10 at PE said t he w o m a n 's b o dy w as f o u nd in a s t r e am a m o ng b u s h e s, u n d er c r o s s- e x a m i n a t i on he said it w as f o u nd b e l ow t he s t r e a m. P W9 on t he o t h er h a nd d e n i ed t h at it w as in a s t r e a m, a nd s t a t ed t h at it w as o u t s i de t he s t r e a m. P W7 said it w as in a s t r e am c a l l ed M o h l a k o l a n e n g. / M u ch - 3 8- Much issue was made of the disparities about the I must say with regard to the reckoning of testimony of various witnesses regarding how far opart the bodies were. The estimated distances ranged from TOO to 500 paces. distances by witnesses who time and again give evidence in this Court vast differences in that regard are very common. However the Court having paid particular attention to the witness's agonised attempts to give a fair estimate of those distances it was persuaded to take 400 to 500 paces as the fair estimate of the distance between the bodies. Likewise the distances between the respective pools of blood on the path and the places where these bodies were disposed of, through the demonstration made by PW2 who was actually holding each body it would seem the woman's body was disposed of 20 paces away from the path while the man's was disposed of only 5 paces away from the path. I have had benefit of considering heads of arguments prepared and argued with commendable thoroughness by learned counsel for defence. The arguments raised therein are centred mainly on contradictions and conflicts in the Crown evidence all of which relate to credibility of those witnesses, At page 11 of his heads Mr. Phoofolo contended that the Crown had failed to dispel the following improbabilities (s) For what good reason did the accused acting alone and unseen by anyone, could he have elected to remain in the scene only to confess to his enemies that he had done the deed, and to point out the bodies to them. (b) Even if he did "confess" to PW2 and PW3, why did he and PW2 hide away the bodies, and nonetheless go on to report his crime to PW4 and PW5, instead of urging PW2 and PW3 to keep it their own secret, /(c) Why - 3 9- (c) ( d) W hy did t he a c c u s ed d e c i d e, if at a l l, to s t e al P a b a l l o 's m o n e y, p u r se and a w a t ch in t he p r e s e n ce of b o th P W2 and P W 3, W hy k n o w i ng f u ll w e ll t h at P W 2, P W 3, P W4 and P W5 k n ow a b o ut his m i s d e ed w as t he a c c u s ed v i s i b ly p r e s e nt at t he s c e ne w h i le p o l i ce e x a m i n ed and r e m o v ed t he b o d i e s. (e) W hy had t he a c c u s ed t he a u d a c i ty to remain in t he v i l l a ge u n t il h is a r r e st a l m o st six d a ys a f t er t he i n c i d e n t. S t a r t i ng w i th t he l o st q u e s t i on it is not u n k n o wn f or c r i m i n a ls to put on a c ts of b r a v a d o. G o i ng to q u e s t i on (d) it is n ot to be i g n o r ed t h at e v en t h o u gh t he a c c u s ed w as m a k i ng p u b l ic to t h em w h at he is a l l e g ed to h a ve d o n e, he had d a r ed t h em to go and r e p o rt to t he a u t h o r i t i es and l a t er f a ce t he c o n s e q u e n c e s. P W2 and P W3 had a c t u a l ly s e en t he d e ad b o d i es w h o se f a te t h ey w o u ld s u f f er if t h ey did n ot t oe t he l i n e. P W4 and P W5 had a p p a r e r n t ly b e l i e v ed t h at t he a c c u s e d 's t h r e a ts t h at he w o u ld f r a me a n y o ne w i th c o m m i s s i on of t he c r i m e s, w e re c a p a b le of e x e c u t i on and t h ey f e a r ed t he p r o s p e c ts of b e i ng s e nt to j a i l. R E g a rd b e i ng had to t he f a ct t h at t h ey said t h ey had n e v er b e en to jail t h e ir f e a rs a re n ot to be b r u s h ed a s i de as u n f o u n d e d. W i th r e g a rd to q u e s t i o ns (a) (b) - w h i ch in p a rt has b e en c o v e r ed in t he a n s w er to the q u e s t i on in (d) - and ( c ); t he w o r ds of S c h u tz J. A. as he t h en w as in C. of A. ( C R I) M o .2 of 1 9 82 K h o k o a ne M a n a m o l e la & 8 O t h e rs vs Rex ( u n r e p o r t e d) at p a ge 34 m ay be i n s t r u c t i ve in t h at : / " M o r e o v e r, - 4 0- " M o r e o v e r, it w o u ld h a ve b e en a s i n g u l a r ly s t u p id w ay of t r y i ng to t h r ow p e o p le o ff t he t r a ck if it w as i n d e ed i m m e d i a t e ly a p p a r e nt t h at t he i n j u r i es had b e en so c a u s e d. c o u r s e, do s t u p id t h i n gs in m o m e n ts of p a n ic or d e s p e r a t i o n" S u s p e c ts d o, of At p a ge 35 of t he s a me c a se t he l e a r n ed J u d ge said - " a g a i n, of c o u r s e, I m u st c o n c e de t h at s u s p e c ts s o m e t i m es do b e h a ve s t u p i d ly u n d er t he p r e s s u re of e v e n t s ". In C R I / T / 8 / 8S R ex v. N a ro L e f a so ( u n r e p o r t e d) at p . 12 in r e s p o n se to a s t a t e m e nt p o s t u l a t ed by C o u n s el t h at "it w o u ld be d o u b t f ul t h at a m an w ho is said to h a ve u s ed t he w e a p on " E x h i b it 1" c o u ld l e a ve it at h is h o u se and m a ke no a t t e m pt to d i s p o se of i t, and f u r t h er t h at t h e re w as no d r op of b l o od on it y et it is s h o wn in e v i d e n ce t h at t he d e c e a s ed w as b l e e d i n g" t h is C o u rt said " it is n ot u n u s u al f or p e o p le w ho c o m m it c r i m es to do s t r a n ge things.. N e x t, a b s e n ce of b l o od f r om a b l u nt i n s t r u m e nt c a n n ot s e r ve as p r o of t h at it w as n ot u s e d ". In r e l a t i on to t he i n s t a nt c a se o ne m ay go f u r t h er and s t a te t h at a b s e n ce of b l o od f r om t he a c c u s e d 's c l o t h es w o u ld o n ly s e r ve to s h ow t h at t h ey d id n ot c o me i n to c o n t a ct w i th a n y. Gut w i th r e g a rd to b l o od w h i ch w as l i k e ly to s t a in t he h a n ds w h i ch h a n d l ed t he d e c e a s ed t h e re w as no s u g g e s t i on t h at t he a c c u s ed had h e ld t h em o ut to t he w i t n e s s es to s ee t h em f or t h e m s e l v e s. I c o n s e q u e n t ly d e r i ve c o m f o rt f r om t he w o r ds of M a l an J in R. vs M l a m bo 1 9 5 7 ( 4) SA 7 27 at 7 3% r e l i ed on by N a i s e Ts P. ( s i t t i ng in t he R e p u b l ic of B o t s w a n a) in A P P E AL c a se n o . 4 / 1 9 84 C l e m e nt K o b e di G o f h a m o d i mo vs T he S t a te ( u n r e p o r t e d) at 11 t h at - / " it - 4 1- " it w as u n r e a l i s t ic to h a ve r e g a rd to t he r e a l ms of c o n j e c t u re w h en t h e re w as at h a nd m a t e r i al w h i ch f u r n i s h e d 'a p e r f e c t ly s o u n d, r a t i o n a l, c o m m on s e n se s o l u t i on of t he p r o b l e m ' ". W i th r e g a rd to t he c o u nt i n v o l v i ng t h e ft I t a ke s o l a ce in t he w o r ds of M a l an J . A. in M l a m bo a b o ve at 7 37 t h a t, in r e s p o n se to t he c o n c l u s i on t h at a f t er k i l l i ng t he m a le d e c e a s ed t he a c c u s ed s t o le h is p o s s e s s i o ns " T he o n ly o b j e c t i on to t h is c o n c l u s i on m ay be t he f a ct t h at t he s t o l en a r t i c l es w e re of c o m p a r a t i v e ly s m a ll v a l u e, b ut it is f o u nd t h at m u r d e rs a re f r e q u e n t ly c o m m i t t ee f or v e ry s m a ll g a i n s ". W i th r e g a rd to t he p l ea of a l i bi t h at w as raised it is t r i te t h at t he a c c u s ed b e a rs no o n us to p r o ve h is a l i b i, b ut t a k i ng i n to a c c o u nt t he f a ct t h at c r e d i b le e v i d e n ce w as a d d u c ed a nd c o r r o b o r a t ed in t he i m p o r t a nt r e s p e ct t h at he w as n e ar t he s c e ne w h en P W2 a nd P W3 w e re a p p r o a c h i ng i t, an i n f e r e n ce c an j u s t i f i a b ly be d r a wn t h at he p r e f e rs to p l a ce h i m s e lf as f ar a w ay f r om t he s c e ne as p o s s i b l e. In my v i ew t h at p l ea m u st f a i l. A v a st r a n ge of p o s s i b i l i t i es w as raised in t he detaile h e a ds of a r g u m e n ts a p p l i ed to t he C o u rt in an e n d e a v o ur to c r e a te d o u bt t h at s h o u ld r e d o u nd to t he a c c u s e d 's b e n e f i t. T he C r o wn w as c r i t i c i s ed as h a v i ng failed to a d d r e ss i t s e lf to t h e se in e v i d e n ce a nd l a w. H ut again M a l an J . A. at 7 38 s a ys " In my o p i n i o n, t h e re is no o b l i g a t i on u p on t he C r o wn to c l o se e v e ry a v e n ue of e s c a pe w h i ch m ay be said to be o p en to an a c c u s e d. It is s u f f i c i e nt f or t he C r o wn to p r o d u ce e v i d e n ce by m e a ns of w h i ch s u ch a h i gh d e g r ee of p r o b a b i l i t i es is t h at t he o r d i n a ry r e a s o n a b le m a n, a f t er m a t u re c o n s i d e r a t i o n, c o m es to t he c o n c l u s i on t h at t h e re e x i s ts no r e a s o n a b le d o u bt t h at an a c c u s ed h as c o m m i t t ed t he c r i me c h a r g e d ". raised / R e l y i ng - 4 2- R e l y i ng on t he e v i d e n ce a d d u c ed t h at t he a c c u s ed w as c l o s er to t he s c e ne w h e re ' M a n n e na h ad laid t h an w h e re P a b a l lo h a d, it w o u ld n ot be u n f a ir to i n f er t h at ' M a n n e na w as c a u g ht in h er f l i g ht f r om w h e re s he h ad b e en w h en s he a l e r t ed t he a c c u s ed t h at s he h ad s e en h im k i ll h er h u s b a n d. It w as l o g i c al t h at in h er f l i g ht s he w o u ld h e ad f or t he v i l l a ge n e a r e st to t he s c e ne of h er h u s b a n d 's d e a t h, n a m e l y, Ha R a m p e li v i l l a g e. E v en if f or a r g u m e n t 's s a k e, it c o u ld be said t he e v i d e n ce l ed as to m o t i ve f or t he k i l l i ng w as f a l se t h e re is a u t h o r i ty f or t he v i ew t h at - " P r o of of m o t i ve f or c o m m i t t i ng a c r i me is a l w a ys h i g h ly d e s i r a b l e, m o re e s p e c i a l ly so w h e re t he q u e s t i on of i n t e n t i on is in i s s u e. F a i l u re to f u r n i sh a b s o l u t e ly c o n v i n c i ng p r o of t h e r e o f, d o es n ot p r e s e nt an i n s u r m o u n t a b le o b s t a c le e v en if m o t i ve is h e ld n ot to h a ve b e en t h e re i m m e d i a t e ly or in t he c o u r se of t he s a me n i g h t ". t he f a ct t h at d e a th r e s u l t ed b e c a u se e s t a b l i s h ed remains e i t h er R e a c t i ng in s i m i l ar v e in S c h u tz J . A. as he t h en w as in S e l lo a b o ve at 4 said " t h e re is no r o om in t he c i r c u m s t a n c es t he c a se b e f o re t he C o u rt to e m b a rk u p on i n f e r e n c es in f a v o ur of t he a p p e l l a n t s ". of s p e c u l a t i ve In h is r e p ly M r. Q h o m a ne e m p h a s i s ed t h at c o n t r a d i c t i o ns in t he C r o wn c a se w e re m i n or a nd t h at t he l aw l a ys d o wn t h at in a c a se b a s ed on c i r c u m s t a n t i al e v i d e n ce t he b e st a p p r o a ch is n ot to t r e at e v i d e n ce p i e c e m e al b ut to h a ve r e g a rd to t he c u m m u l a t i ve e f f e ct of t he t o t a l i ty of e v i d e n ce a d d u c e d. A l t h o u gh p r o of of t he a c t u al k i l l i n gs is b a s ed on c i r c u m s t a n t i al e v i d e n ce t he q u e s t i on of t he a c c u s e d 's r e p o r t i ng to v a r i o us w i t n e s s es is a m a t t er of d i r e ct e v i d e n c e. / In - 4 3- In S. vs M a s in 1 9 6 2 ( 1) SA 541 it is s t a t ed " E a ch i t em of e v i d e n ce is n ot to be t a k en in i s o l a t i o n ". In R. vs De V i l l i e rs 1 9 44 AD 4 93 at 5 08 it is said " E v i d e n ce as a w h o le is i n c o n s i s t e nt w i th i n n o c e n c e ". T h is w as s u b m i t t ed in r e s p o n se to t he c h a r ge l e v e l l ed at t he C r o wn t h at i ts e v i d e n ce is f u ll of i n c o n s i s t e n c i e s. It w as f u r t h er s t a t ed t h at t he a r g u m e nt on b e h a lf of t he a c c u s ed as to i m p r o b a b i l i t i es a nd i n c o n s i s t e n c i es w as b a s ed on s p e c u l a t i ve a s s u m p t i on t h at t he c r e d i b i l i ty of t he C r o w n 's w i t n e s s es h ad b e en s h a t t e r e d. B ut K e l ly a b o ve s h o ws t h at c r e d i b i l i ty is no s u b s t i t u te f or e v i d e n c e. C r e d i b i l i ty s e r v es as a y a r d s t i ck in w e i g h i ng up t he m e r i ts a nd d e m e r i ts of e i t h er s i d e. B ut in t h is c a se t he a c c u s ed s t u ck by h is r i g ht to remain s i l e n t. In t he r e s u lt o n ly o ne s i de w as m a t c h ed against q u e s t i o ns l e ft h a n g i ng in t he air. It is f u n d a m e n t al t h at a c r i m i n al t r i al c a n n ot be d e c i d ed on s p e c u l a t i o n. W i th r e g a rd to t he t e st a p p l i ed c o n c e r n i ng c r e d i b i l i ty t he C o u rt is l e ft w i th t he C r o w n 's w i t n e s s es to go b y. To t he c h a r ge t h at P W 2, P W 3, P W4 a nd P W5 a re all a c c o m p l i c es it w as c o n t e n d ed t h at t he C o u rt s h o u ld d e t e r m i ne t h at by l o o k i ng i n to t he m i n ds of t h e se w i t n e s s e s. T he C o u rt s h o u ld t h en be a b le to a p p r e c i a te t h at t h ey w e re so t e r r i f i ed of t he a c c u s ed t h at t h e ir f r ee w i ll w as s u p p r e s s e d. T h e r e f o re it m u st be c o n c l u d ed t h at t h ey d id n ot c o n c e al t he m a t t er of t he u n l a w f ul k i l l i ng w i l f u l l y. D u r e ss u n d er w h i ch t h ey w e re h ad v i t i a t ed t h e ir f r ee w i l l. / W i th - 4 4- W i th r e g a rd to p r o b a b i l i t i es a nd i m p r o b a b i l i t i es to be weighed and considered in making a determination in c r i m i n al p r o c e e d i n gs r e f e r e n ce to C R I / T / 2 2 / 88 M o t a mo Sehlabaka (unreported) at 70 onwards would be productive. I am a l i ve to t he s t a t e m e nt of S c o b le in T he L aw of E v i d e n ce in S o u th A f r i ca 3 rd E d. at 2 50 t h at - " t he s t a t e m e n t s, a l t h o u gh a c t u a l ly m a de as d e p o s ed t o, m ay be f a l s e, f or t he p r i s o n e r, o p p r e s s ed by be t he c a l a m i ty of h is s i t u a t i o n, m ay i n d u c ed by m o t i v es of h o pe or f e ar to m a ke an u n t r ue c o n f e s s i on a nd t he s a me r e s u lt m ay h a ve a r i s en f r om a m o r b id a m b i t i on to i n f a m o us n o t o r i e ty s c r e en or it m ay e v en be t he r e s u lt of t he d e l u s i on of an o v e r w r o u g ht a nd f a n t a s t ic i m a g i n a t i o n ". an or f r om a n x i e ty to a c o m r a de obtain R e l i a b le a nd available e v i d e n ce in t he i n s t a nt c a se e x c l u d es t he a b o ve s et of p o s s i b i l i t i e s. T he a c c u s ed c o n f e s s ed to C r o wn w i t n e s s es t h at he k i l l ed P a b a l l o. H is r e a s on f or d o i ng so w as t h at P a b a l lo w as m a k i ng l i fe d i f f i c u lt f or t he a c c u s e d 's a u nt P W 5. T he a c c u s ed f u r t h er k i l l ed ' M a n n e na b e c a u se it w as n e c e s s a ry to s i l e n ce h er f or t he a c c u s ed f e a r ed s he w o u ld e x p o se t he c u l p r it w ho p e r p e t r a t ed t he c r i me against P a b a l l o. T r o o p er s e e i so t e s t i f i ed t h at a c c u s ed t o ok h im to t he s p ot w h e re he p o i n t ed o ut t he k n i fe h a n d l e. T he c ut on f e m a le d e c e a s e d 's l ip w as c o n s i s t e nt w i th u se of a s h a rp i n s t r u m e n t. I n f e r e n t i al r e a s o n i ng l e a ds to t h is c o n c l u s i o n. R. v. S a m h a n do 1 9 43 AD 6 08 s h o ws t h at e v i d e n ce of p o i n t i ng o ut w i ll be a d m i t t ed as s h o w i ng t h at an a r t i c le u s ed to c o m m it a c r i me or i t s e lf a s u b j e ct of c r i m e, w as d i s c o v e r ed as a r e s u lt of t he a c c u s e d 's p o i n t i ng it o u t. T h is l e a ds t he / m an -45- man pointing out being linked investigated. with the offence being The accused is found guilty of the unlawful and intentional killings of (a) LehlohonoTo Moloche in Count l;and (b) 'Mannena Moloche in Count II. He is also found guilty of theft preferred against woollen purse and the M1-50 only. him in Count III in respect of PW2 is freed from any of the crimes charged. My assessors agree. J U D G E 20th September, 1991 - 4 6- R U L I NG ON E X T E N U A T I ON T he a c c u s ed a f t er c o n v i c t i on on all c o u n ts g a ve e v i d e n ce in an a t t e m pt to e s t a b l i sh on a b a l a n ce of p r o b a b i l i t i es t h at in r e s p e ct of C o u n ts I a nd II i n v o l v i ng t he d e a t hs of L e h l o h o n o lo a nd ' M a n n e na r e s p e c t i v e l y, e x t e n u a t i ng c i r c u m s t a n c es e x i s t .. T h e se a re f a c t o rs t h at t he C o u rt t a k es i n to a c c o u nt in an e n d e a v o ur to s ee w h e t h er t he r e p r o h e n s i b i i i ty of t he o f f e n ce c o m m i t t e d, a nd in r e s p e ct of t he a c c u s ed h a v i ng b e en f o u nd g u i l t y, c an be p a l l i a t ed m o r a l ly s p e a k i n g. It s t a n ds to r e a s on t h e r e f o re t h at t he t e st to a p p ly in o r d er to m a ke a d e t e r m i n a t i on in t h at r e g a rd is a s u b j e c t i ve o n e. H o l m es J . A. in S. vs L e t s o lo 1 9 7 0 ( 3) SA 4 7 6 - 4 77 e n u m e r a t ed s a m p l es of f a c t o rs w h i ch c an be r e l e v a nt to e x t e n u a t i on in a c a se a nd s t a t ed t h at t he l i st t h e r e of is n ot e x h a u s t i v e. It w as w i th t h is in v i ew t h at w h en M r. Q h o m a ne s o u g ht to r i se a nd r a i se an o b j e c t i on to h e a r- s ay e v i d e n ce t h at t he a c c u s ed e m b a r k ed on w h en g i v i ng e v i d e n ce t h at t he C o u rt u r g ed p a t i e n ce on t he p a rt of t he C r o wn in c a se t he h e a r - s ay w o u ld h e lp t he a c c u s ed u n w i nd a nd p e r h a ps in t he c o u r se of d o i ng so a l i g ht on w h at c o u ld be r e g a r d ed as e x t e n u a t i n g. T he a c c u s ed t o ld t he C o u rt t h at he w as b o rn in 1 9 6 2. He said r e l a t i o ns b e t w e en h im a nd P a b a T lo w e re c o r d i a l. T he p e r s on to w h om t he a c c u s ed is r e l a t ed a nd w ho w as n ot in g o od t e r ms w i th t he d e c e a s ed P a b a l lo w as t he a c c u s e d 's a u nt ' M a n t s ie P W 5. He f u r t h er s t a t ed t h at t he f a ct t h at t h is w as s o, d id n ot a f f e ct h i m. / I n d e ed - 4 7- I n d e ed t he a c c u s ed r e f e r r ed to an o c c a s i on w h en P W 5 's s t o ck w e re i m p o u n d ed f r om t he r e s e r v ed p a s t u r es by t he d e c e a s ed P a b a l l o. T he r e l e v a n ce of t h is o c c a s i on w a s, as f ar as I c o u ld d e t e r m i n e, t h at P W5 w o u ld h a ve h ad c a u se to d i s l i ke P a b a l lo b e c a u se P a b a l i o 's s t o ck w as n e v er i m p o u n d ed by h im f or t he s a me t r e s s p a ss as h ad b e en c o m m i t t ed by P W 5 's s t o c k. O ne w o u ld h a ve e x p e c t ed t h at t he a c c u s ed w o u ld d e t e st t h is u n f a ir t r e a t m e nt g i v en to h is a u nt b ut he d id n ot r e f er to it as h a v i ng s o u r ed r e l a t i o ns b e t w e en h im a nd P a b a l l o. T he u p s h ot of t he a c c u s e d 's e v i d e n ce h as n ot h e l p ed us k n ow a ny m o re t h an w h at t he c r o s s - e x a m i n a t i on in t he main t r i al e x p o s e d. It is s t r a n ge t h at d e s p i te h a v i ng u n d e r t a k en w h en l ed t h at he w as g o i ng to m a ke a c l e an b r e a st of w h at o c c u r r ed on 1 8 th M a r ch 1 9 89 at H l a b a n e n g - s a - R a n n o i, he s t u ck to t he v e r s i on t h at w as a d v a n c ed on h is b e h a lf t h r o u gh c r o s s - e x a m i n a t i o n. If as he s t a t ed t he C r o wn w i t n e s s es i n c l u d i ng h is a u nt w e re l y i ng a b o ut h im w h en t h e ir e v i d e n ce a s s o c i a t ed h im w i th t he c r i m e, t he t e s t i m o ny t h at he g a ve in h is a f f i d a v it w h en a p p l y i ng f or bail w o u ld s c a r c e ly l ie a b o ut h im b e c a u se it w as g i v en by h im to h is l a w y er M r. M da a nd s w o rn to b e f o re a C o m m i s s i o n er of O a t hs - an o f f i c er C o m m a n d i ng at t he M o h a l e 's H o ek p r i s on on 2 9 th M ay 1 9 89 as b o r ne o ut by t he d a te s t a m p. T he a c c u s ed a c k n o w l e d g ed t he h a n d - w r i t i ng of t he d e p o n e n t 's n a me as h is b ut said he w as m a de to s i gn in a c a se w h e re h is l a w y er h ad said he w as g o i ng to f i g ht f or h im to g et bail e v en t h o u gh t he a c c u s ed h ad t o ld t h at l a w y er t h at he h ad n ot k i l l ed t he t wo d e c e a s e d. /I f i nd - 4 8- I f i nd t h is a p a t h e t ic l i e. T he a c c u s ed a c t ed o ut h is d r a ma of l i es b e f o re t h is C o u rt by a l so s u g g e s t i ng t h at e v en t h o u gh he i n s t r u c t ed h is p r e s e nt C o u n s el M r. P h o o f o lo to b r i ng a w i t n e ss w ho w o u ld s u p p o rt h is a l i bi h is C o u n s el d id n o t h i ng a b o ut i t. T he s w o rn s t a t e m e nt m a de in t he a c c u s e d 's a p p l i c a t i on f or bail w as p ut to h i m. He d e n i ed i ts c o n t e n ts s a ve t h at he t o ld t h is C o u rt t h at h is t h en l a w y er h ad r e c e i v ed f r om h im n a m es of t he t wo d e c e a s ed and t he n a me of t he p l a ce Ha M a q o a la w h i ch a p p e a r ed in t he c h a r ge f a c i ng h i m. W i th r e g a rd to t he r e st of t he s t a t e m e nt a p p e a r i ng in h is a f f i d a v it he said he d id n ot k n ow w h e re h is l a w y er g ot t he s t o ry f r om t h at t e n d ed to p l a ce h im at t he s a me p l a ce as t he d e c e a s ed a l o ng t he w ay to Ha ' M a p a n e, He d e n i ed t he s w o rn v e r s i on a s c r i b ed to h im t h at he h ad b e en c h a l l e n g ed by t he d e c e a s ed P a b a l lo d u r i ng t he c o u r se of w h o se s t r u g g le w i th h im P a b a l l o 's w i fe ' M a n n e na e n t e r ed t he f r ay a nd h e ld t he a c c u s ed by h is t e s t i c l es as w e ll as h i t t i ng t he a c c u s ed w i th a s t o ne on t he a r m. I n d e ed as b o th C o u n s el s u b m i t t ed b e f o re me r e s o rt c an be a nd is o f t en h ad to e v i d e n ce in t he main t r i al e v en at t h is l a t t er s t a ge of t r i a l. In t he main t r i al r e f e r e n ce w as m a de to t he f a ct t h at P W5 a nd P W4 a s k ed w hy ' M a n n e na w as a l so k i l l e d. T h is w o u ld g i ve c r e d e n ce to t he f a ct t h at u n d e r s t a n d a b ly e v en t h o u gh n ot r e a s o n a b ly it w as n ot t h at r e p r e h e n s i b le m o r a l ly if P a b a l lo d i e d. T h is is an i m p o r t a nt f a c t or w h en d e t e r m i n i ng t he q u e s t i on of e x t e n u a t i ng c i r c u m s t a n c es b e c a u se t he q u e s t i on of t he s o c i al m e l i eu of w h i ch t he a c c u s ed is a p r o d u ct is / of - 4 9- of g r e at i m p o r t a n ce s u b j e c t i v e ly s p e a k i n g. T he o n ly p r o b l em t h at t he a c c u s ed is f a c ed w i th r e g a r d i ng P a b a l l o 's d e a th is t h at in h is w eb of l i es he t o ld t h is C o u rt t h at he n e v er a t t a c k ed or e v en k i l l ed P a b a l l o. T he C o u rt is h o w e v er n ot b o u nd to go by f a l se e v i d e n ce in t he f a ce of t he e v i d e n ce t h at it a c c e p t ed as t r u e. M r. P h o o f o lo a r g u ed t h at t h e re w as no p r e m e d i t a t i on in t h e se k i l l i n g s. I n d e ed no e v i d e n ce s h o w ed a ny s c h e m i ng of a ny k i nd to s u g g e st p r e m e d i t a t i o n. T he t y pe of p r e m e d i t a t i on t h at o ne c an d i s c e rn is of a g e n e r al n a t u r e, n a m e ly t h at t he a c c u s ed w as n ot h a p py in t he m a n n er t h at P a b a l lo w as b e h a v i ng t o w a r ds h is a u n t. T h is is a f a c t or t h at w o u ld s e r ve n e u t r a l i se t he l e a r n ed C o u n s e l 's a t t e m pt to a d v a n ce t he q u e s t i on of b e er d r i n k i ng as h a v i ng p l a y ed a p a rt in t he k i l l i ng of t he t wo d e c e a s e d. In a ny e v e nt t he a c c u s ed said he h ad t a k en v e ry l i t t le d r i nk w h i le P W4 w ho k n o ws h im v e ry w e ll a nd h ad b e en a c c o m p a n i ed by h im said t he a c c u s ed d id n ot a p p e ar d r u nk at a l l. T he a c c u s ed w as a s k ed w hy in p a r t i c u l ar P W 5, h is a u n t, s h o u ld j o in f o r c es w i th P W 4, P W2 a nd P W3 in l y i ng a b o ut h i m. H is a n s w er w as " T h ey a re i m p l i c a t i ng m e ". T he C r o wn a c c o r d i n g ly s u b m i t t ed t h at P W5 w as t he a c c u s e d 's a u nt a nd t h e ir r e l a t i o ns w e re g o o d. R e a c t i ng to a m o re or l e ss s i m i l ar s i t u a t i on S c h u tz P in C. of A. ( C R I) N o .3 of 1 9 34 V i n c e nt M o n a h e ng M u s e t se T h e be v s. R ex ( u n r e p o r t e d) at 20 said : " He w as t h en a s k ed w h e t h er t he w i t n e ss h ad a n y t h i ng h im to w h i ch t he a n s w er w as ' N O '. against T he t r i al c o u rt by c l e ar i m p l i c a t i on a c c e p t ed t he e v i d e n ce of t h is w i t n e s s. s h o u ld be a c c e p t ed as t r u e. b e l i e ve t h at t he w i t n e ss w o u ld h a ve f a b r i c a t ed h is o wn c o u s in to w h om he b o re no s t o ry h o s t i l i t y ". To my m i nd t he e v i d e n ce against It is v e ry d i f f i c u lt to t h is / In - 5 0- In t h is c a se t he e v i d e n ce of P W5 w as e x p r e s s ly a c c e p t ed as t r u e. T he a c c u s ed e n j o y ed h er h o s p i t a l i t y. M r. P h o o f o lo in a r g u m e nt s u b m i t t ed w i th g r e a t e st r e s p e ct t h at t he C o u rt h ad n ot s t a t ed w h e t h er murder c o n v i c t i o ns were on t he b a s is of d o l us d i r e c t us or d o l us e v e n t u al i s. To h i g h l i g ht t he i m p o r t a n ce of t h e se t wo e l e m e n ts of c r i m i n al l i a b i l i ty S c h u tz P. in S e l lo a b o ve said at 6 " T h at w o u ld l e ad to a f i n d i ng of d o l us e v e n t u al i s. S u ch a f i n d i ng is s o m e t i m es a b a s is f or f i n d i ng e x t e n u a t i o n, b ut in my v i ew it is n ot s u f f i c i e nt in t h is c a s e ". T he f a ct t h at t he m o t i ve w o u ld a p p e ar to be t h e ft f r om t he d e c e a s e d 's p e r s on w o u ld n ot o r d i n a r i ly r e d u ce t he a c c u s e d 's b l a m e w o r t h i n e s s. H o w e v er t h e re w as e v i d e n ce t h at t he a c c u s ed h ad complained t h at P o b a l lo m a de l i fe d i f f i c u lt f or t he a c c u s e d 's a u nt P W 5. T he p l u n d er t h at w as e f f e c t ed s e e ms to me to h a ve b e en s e c o n d a r y. To t h is e x t e nt I w o u ld be i n c l i n ed to t h i nk e x t e n u a t i ng c i r c u m s t a n c es e x i s t ed in r e s p e ct of t he k i l l i ng of t he d e c e a s ed P a b a l l o, W i th r e s p e ct to t he k i l l i ng of t he d e c e a s ed ' M a n n e na t he p o s i t i on s e e ms d i f f e r e n t. A b u n d a nt e v i d e n ce s h o ws t h at s he w as k i l l ed b e c a u se s he w o u ld r e p o rt t he c u l p r it in h er h u s b a n d 's d e a th to t he a u t h o r i t i e s. I am f ar f r om b e i ng i n c l i n ed to t h i nk t h at e v en in t he s o c i al b a c k g r o u nd f r om w h i ch t he a c c u s ed c o m es a k i l l i ng e f f e c t ed in s u ch c i r c u m s t a n c es c o u ld be said to p a l l i a te t he m o r al r e p r e- h e n s i b i l i ty of s u ch a c t. On t he c o n t r a ry it w o u ld a g g r a v a te i t. /In - 5 1- In C R I / T / 1 9 / 74 Rex v. K o po ( u n r e p o r t e d) at 24 C o t r an C. J. as he t h en w as said : " T he s u b j e c t i ve t e st to t he a c c u s e d 's s t a te of m i nd is of p a r a m o u nt i m p o r t a n ce f or n ot o n ly is it a f a c t or to be t a k en i n to a c c o u n t, b ut is i n d e ed a m o re i m p o r t a nt o ne to c o n s i d er in t h is r e g a rd t h an t he o b j e c t i ve t e st f or t he f a c t u al b a s is for t h is s t a te of m i n d ". I n , S. v. N d l o vu 1 9 7 0 ( 1) SA 4 30 at 4 33 H o l m es J . A. said : " t h e re m u st be a f a c t u al f o u n d a t i on f or a t r i al c o u r t 's f i n d i ng of such c i r c u m s t a n c e s, on a p r e p o n d e r a n ce of p r o b a b i l i ty T h is d o es n ot n e c e s s a r i ly m e an t he a c c u s ed m u st g i ve e v i d e n ce : in a p r o p er c a se t he t r i al c o u rt m ay be a b le to f i nd t he r e q u i r ed d e g r ee of p r o b a b i l i ty f r om t he e v i d e n ce as a w h o le or f r om so m u ch t h e r e of as it h as a c c e p t e d. f o u n d a t i on of p r o b a b i l i ty b e f o re t he c o u rt can e x e r c i se w h at is in e f f e ct a m o r al j u d g m e nt in t he m a t t er of e x t e n u a t i ng c i r c u m s t a n c e s ". G ut t h e re m u st a l w a ys be a S ee C R I / T / 3 8 / 78 R ex v. S e l lo L e m p h a ne & 2 O t h e rs ( u n r e p o r t e d ). I h a ve b e en r e f e r r ed to CRI/T/40/90 R ex v. S e k h o be L e t si a nd A n o t h er (unreported) w h e re I w as t o ld t he f a c ts r e l a t i ng to ' M a n n e na a re s i m i l ar to t h o se r e l a t i ng to s o me of t he v i c t i ms in t he a b o ve c a s e. I am of t he f i rm o p i n i on t h at t h e re a re no e x t e n u a t i ng c i r c u m s t a n c es in r e s p e ct of t he k i l l i ng of t he d e c e a s ed ' M a n n e n a. My a s s e s s o rs a g r e e. S E N T E N CE In r e s p e ct of C o u nt I a c c u s ed s e n t e n c ed to / 15 y e a r s' - 5 2- 15 y e a r s' i m p r i s o n m e n t. In C o u nt III s e n t e n c ed to t h r e at 3) m o n t h s' i m p r i s o n m e nt ( s u s p e n d ed f or a y e ar on c o n d i t i on t h at he be n ot c o n v i c t ed of a c r i me i n v o l v i ng d i s h o n e s ty c o m m i t t ed d u r i ng p e r i od of s u s p e n s i o n .) R e g i s t r ar w i ll a c c u s ed say w hy d e a th s e n t e n ce s h o u ld n ot be p a s s e d. A C C. : "I w i sh to be g i v en p r i s on t e r m. I ask f or m e r c y ." C O U RT : In r e s p e ct of C o u nt II t he s e n t e n ce of t he C o u rt is t h at y ou w i ll be r e m o v ed f r om t he b ox in w h i ch y ou a re and t a k en to a p l a ce of c u s t o dy w h e re on an a p p o i n t ed d ay and t i me y ou s h a ll s u f f er d e a th by h a n g i ng by y o ur n e ck u n t il y ou a re d e a d. M ay G od h a ve m e r cy on y o ur s o u l. My a s s e s s o rs a g r e e. J U D GE 2 3 rd S e p t e m b e r, 1991 F or C r o wn : M r. Q h o m a ne F or D e f e n c e: M r. P h o o f o lo