a Francistown High Court judge, Justice Kholisani Solo...

a Francistown High Court judge, Justice Kholisani Solo, sentenced Abote Batsietsi Monnana of Moletemane Village to death for the murder of a four-year-old girl, Bofelo Mmaonyana Moselekatse, the Telegraph reported. Monnana is alleged to have sometime between 25th November and 6th December 2008 near Moletemane Village in the Central Administrative District, kidnapped Bofelo Maonyana Moselekatse, a female minor, and murdered her. Passing the sentence, Justice Solo said that there are no extenuating factors in the case to reduce the blameworthiness of the accused. He also said that the state witness gave overwhelming evidence against the accused. “Having carefully weighed the evidence as led by witnesses, it is only fair to say that the witnesses did not fabricate their evidence. The state has proved it`s case beyond reasonable doubt and I find the accused guilty as charged of the murder of Mmaonyana Bofelo Moselekatse. The accused will be hanged by the neck until he dies,” he said. Monnana had argued in court during trial saying that he never kidnapped the child and never committed the offense. He said that the witnesses in the case framed him, adding that they hate him. Monnana also claimed that he was assaulted by the Police as the tortured him to admit that he committed the offense. Monnana was given six weeks to appeal his case.