BOTSWANA. POPO HANGED SECRETLY - JOINA

Thema Joina, the lawyer of Sepeni Popo, said his client was executed secretly. Joina said neither him nor Popo's family members were informed that he was to be executed. Joina said he only heard rumours that his client had been executed.
"Some people told me that it was announced over Radio Botswana lunch time news." Popo's family was also not informed that he was to be hanged.
"I am shocked that these people behaved this way. In the past, they used to inform the family members.” Popo was executed for the murder of a Molepolole woman, Botshwarelo Balotlegi in 2004, who was found with her private parts harvested. He was convicted and sentenced to death by the High Court last year and this year, the Court of Appeal upheld the sentence. Joina said they also made an application for the prerogative of mercy to President Festus Mogae but they were never informed if their application was rejected.
"Why did they execute him secretly? They should have informed us that our application for clemency had failed," said Joina.
He argued that the execution might have been unconstitutional as some constitutional requirements were not met.