THE High Court has postponed to April 28 the murder trial of ’Maesaiah Thabane and her husband, former Prime Minister Motsoahae Thabane who together with four others stand accused of the murder of Thabane’s estranged wife, Lipolelo Thabane.
news
March 9, 2022
KENEUOE NKUATSANA
2 min read
No co-accused in ’Maesaiah murder trial
'Maesaiah and Motsoahae Thabane in court
Story highlights
No docket and police affidavits as the case continues
Accused deny any wrong-doing in the killing
The other four accused include suspected hitmen allegedly hired by Thabane and ’Maesaiah to eliminate Lipolelo.
Justice Molefi Makara on Tuesday rescheduled the matter among others because the Crown had failed to provide police affidavits and dockets that have to be scrutinised by the defence before the trial date.
Only Thabane, 82, and ’Maesaiah, 43, who have both denied any wrong doing in the crime showed up in court this week.
Lipolela was shot dead as she sat in her car near her Ha ’Masana home on the outskirts of Maseru, days before Thabane was sworn in as premier in June 2017.
Lipolelo was with a friend, Thato Sibolla at the time of the fatal shooting.
She and Thabane had been going through an acrimonious divorce at the time of her death.
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Police allege that ’Maesaiah hired assassins to kill Lipolelo but was not present at the shooting.
Thabane and ’Maesaiah are also charged with the attempted murder of Sibolla and with malicious damage to property, Lipolelo’s vehicle.
Thabane resigned in May 2020 after pressure to quit from his All Basotho Convention (ABC) party, opposition figures and South African mediators.
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