Chief Justice Sakoane Sakoane has ruled that Corporal Tjekane Sebolai and Private Selone Ratšiu must stand trial for the murder of Lisebo Tang, the attempted murder of Tšepo Jane, and malicious damage to property.
The ruling comes after the accused sought to have the charges dismissed, arguing that crucial forensic evidence was flawed.
The defense, led by Advocate Sello Tšabeha, had petitioned the court to drop the charges, citing issues with the ballistic evidence.
They highlighted that a bullet fragment found in Tang’s body was never tested and that a ballistic report failed to match bullets from the crime scene with the rifles examined. The defense further argued that an external expert report confirming these discrepancies was never submitted to the court.
Despite these objections, Justice Sakoane found the evidence sufficient for the case to proceed. The accused soldiers are alleged to have opened fire on May 9, 2014, in Ha Leqele, near the residence of former Army Commander Tlali Kamoli, resulting in Tang’s death and Jane’s injury.
Prosecutor advocate Motene Rafoneke asserted that the state had presented a prima facie case, meaning the accused must respond to the charges. He warned that if they remained silent, the court could convict them based solely on the available evidence.
Eyewitness Account and Forensic Evidence
Jane, the sole surviving victim, also took the stand. He recounted how he and Tang were fired upon by soldiers after he stopped near Kamoli’s home. Jane survived and was treated at Makoanyane Military Hospital, where the army covered his medical costs. He later learned of Tang’s death due to multiple gunshot wounds.
Other key witnesses included Lehlohonolo Lesale, the owner of the rented vehicle damaged in the shooting, and Detective Lance Sergeant Liau Seeko, a crime scene officer. The court reviewed several exhibits, including two AK-47 rifles, a postmortem report, a medical report, and a statement of facts.
The postmortem report, conducted on May 14, 2014, confirmed that Tang died from multiple gunshot wounds that caused severe internal organ damage.
The case was initially handled by Justice Kabelo Lebotse, a foreign judge appointed to oversee high-profile cases. In 2020, he acquitted one of the original three accused, Private Kopano Matsoso, citing insufficient evidence. However, before ruling on Sebolai and Ratsiu, Lebotse resigned, leading to the reassignment of the case.
Upon taking over, Chief Justice Sakoane ordered a retrial in 2023, leading to the current proceedings. The accused soldiers now face full trial on charges of murder, attempted murder, and malicious damage to property.
Relebohile Makhetha is a court and crime reporter based in Maseru. She has been working at Newsday since 2024. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Professional Communication from Limkokwing University of Creative Technology (2024) and a Diploma in Mass Communication from the National University of Lesotho (Institute of Extra-Mural Studies, 2018).
