THE trial in which the four soldiers accused of the attempted murder of the former editor of Lesotho Times, Lloyd Mutungamiri, is expected to proceed next week Tuesday.

The matter, which continues before Maseru Senior Resident Magistrate Peter Murenzi is also scheduled to proceed on October 20 and November 3.

This, after the long-running case was postponed on July 19, and Private Mahanyane Phusmane, who since turned state witness against his former co-accused, is expected to give his evidence-in-chief as the second Crown witness.

Phusumane was in September 2019 set free from the Maseru Prison in order to testify against Rapelang Mphaki, Khutlang Mochesane, Nyatso Tšoeunyane and Maribe Nathane, who are still behind bars in the remand prison.

The five soldiers had initially been charged together for the attempted murder of Mutungamiri, a Zimbabwe national, at his Lower Thamae, Maseru residence in July 9, 2016.

During the hearing, Mutungamiri, who had to be flown from his native country into Lesotho in order to testify as the Crown’s first witness, was placed under heavy security, as he said he feared for his life.

He told the court that, owing to the injuries he sustained during the shooting, he is no longer able to work.

After several postponements for an array of reasons, the lead prosecutor in the trial, Advocate Rethabile Setlojoane, recently took a swing at the defence lawyers, accusing them of deliberately delaying the case.