A case in which some members of the Lesotho Defence Force (LDF) including Former Army Commander Tlali Kamoli are charged with the murder of Maaparankoe Mahao has on Monday resumed before the High Court.

The prosecution led evidence from Major General Matumelo Ramoqopo who is one of the people who attended to the deceased at Makoanyane Military Hospital before he died.

The witness testified that on June 25, 2015 while in her office at Makoanyane Hospital she received a call from Major General Poopa who asked her if they had received a patient that day. 

She pointed out that there were no details about the patient but she concluded that it must have been a special one. She indicated that she told Major General Poopa that she will inquire about the patient.

She told the court that she went to the office of Matrons which is near the reception to make the enquiry. She indicated that she got another call from Major General Poopa who told her that they should get ready to receive the patient.

The witness said while in the Matrons office where she got Major Hokinyana, a soldier called Makara, who was identified as one of the accused in the matter, arrived and told them that they brought the patient. She said they all left to the ambulance area where Makara had said the patient was. She however said she went to the emergency room to ensure that the staff was ready for the patient. She added that she also went to the maternity ward to get sheets that would be used to cover a trolley.

She stated that from the maternity ward she was followed by Private Sechele and a male nurse to the ambulance area. She said when they got there, she saw Major Hokinyana holding and supporting a male patient from a white double cab vehicle.

She indicated that the patient could still walk but with difficulty. She said Private Sechele got the trolley and they helped the patient to get on it.

The witness testified that she recognised the patient as General Mahao adding that he had lost a lot of blood. She stated that the right hand of the patient was loosely hanging, as if he was unable to control it. She said he asked them to take off his shoes, but promised him that they would do that when they got to the emergency room.

She informed the court that when they got to the emergency room, she decided to attend to the right side of the patient where it seemed he had bled a lot. She said the patient had a fractured bone on the upper arm of his right hand together with two wounds on the inner part of the upper arm as well as two wounds on the chest. She added that he also had a small open wound on the back, still on the right-hand side which was bleeding a lot.

The witness informed the court that they dressed the wounds in order to stop the bleeding. She stated that attempts to insert a line on the patient were unsuccessful. She said first readings from the vitals revealed that the patient had a low blood pressure indicating that he lost a lot of blood.

She indicated that the patient got restless adding that he was then breathing with difficulty. She said they tried to intubate him but he kept bleeding from the mouth. She added that they ended up giving him oxygen through a mask as suction of secretion did not work. 

She stated that the patient went into a coma adding that CPR was applied but the patient could not be resuscitated and was certified dead by the doctors who were there.

The accused in the matter are alleged to have shot and killed the deceased on June 25, 2015 at Ha Lekete in Mokema.  They are also facing several other charges in relation to this matter.           

The case is before Justice Charles Hungwe.