The defence in the ongoing trial within trial in the Mohale Dam Murder case, has on Thursday revealed that the police who were investigating high-profile cases made sure that the accused did not have access to lawyers.

During cross-examination of Detective Inspector Tankiso Lethoko, Advocate Letuka Molati who is representing some of the accused in this case, stated that Former Army Commander Lieutenant General Tlali Kamoli is the only accused who has been to the Police Headquarters with a lawyer. 

The witness stated that the accused in the present matter never requested to seek legal advice. He pointed out that they were frequently advised of their right to legal representation of their choice, but they chose not to exercise that right. He emphasized that they cannot tell people about their rights and in turn refuse them the same.

The cross-examination of Inspector Lethoko continues as the court is trying to establish admissibility of evidence that confessions, admissions and pointing out by the accused were freely and voluntarily made. The defence insists that the accused were tortured by the police during interrogations.

Detective Inspector Lethoko who was part of the Special Investigations Unit which probed the case has in his evidence in chief testified that the arrests of the accused commenced in September 2017 with Brigadier Rapele Mphaki of the Military Intelligence. He stated that the accused were brought to the Police Headquarters in Maseru by the Military Police.      

The witness indicated that none of them were handcuffed or shackled when they were brought to the police and while they were with the police being questioned until they were detained. He added that the accused voluntarily gave explanations to the police and made the point out.     

The accused in the matter are alleged to have acted in concert and in furtherance of a common purpose and strangled Lekhoele Noko, Khothatso Makibinyane and Molise Pakela to death during incidents that happened at Setibing in Maseru on May 16, 2017.   It is alleged that following the killing, they dumped their bodies into the Mohale Dam from which they were later retrieved. 

They are also facing charges such as conspiracy to murder, unlawful detention and issuing superior orders to unlawful detention as well as to kill.