BOTSWANA: COURT OF APPEAL CONFIRMS DEATH SENTENCE

the Botswana Court of Appeal confirmed the death sentence of Sepeni Thubisane Popo for the murder of Ms Boitshwarelo Tinki Balotlegi of Molepolole. Ms Balotlegi was found dead in October 2004 with her private parts missing in what was widely believed to be a ritual murder case. The court held Popo murdered Ms Balotlegi due to greed as he was promised P1 000. Popo picked up the victim and induced her into the bush where she was assaulted, stabbed and her private parts removed. He was originally charged along with two traditional doctors, Kautu Aubrey Eanang and Mabalani Tselakgopo. Tselakgopo was acquitted by the High Court due to lack of evidence, while Eanang was acquitted as there is no law in Botswana criminalising the possession of human parts.