Tang murder judgment postponed again
Moorosi Tsiane CHIEF Justice Sakoane Sakoane has postponed judgment in the high-profile murder trial involving two former bodyguards of ex-army commander Lieutenant General Tlali Kamoli, citing pressure from ongoing Court of Appeal proceedings. The judgment, which had been expected this week, was deferred to 26 May 2026 after Justice... The post Tang murder judgment postponed again appeared first on Lesotho Times.
Black News 
Moorosi Tsiane
CHIEF Justice Sakoane Sakoane has postponed judgment in the high-profile murder trial involving two former bodyguards of ex-army commander Lieutenant General Tlali Kamoli, citing pressure from ongoing Court of Appeal proceedings.
The judgment, which had been expected this week, was deferred to 26 May 2026 after Justice Sakoane said he was still finalising the lengthy ruling.
Soldiers; Sergeant (then Corporal) Tjekane Sebolai and Corporal (then Private) Selone Ratšiu, are accused of murdering civilian Lisebo Tang in 2014 outside Kamoli’s Ha-Leqele residence on 9 May 2014.
The pair face charges of murder, attempted murder and malicious damage to property.
Tang died instantly when the vehicle she was travelling in with Tšepo Jane came under heavy gunfire. Jane survived but sustained serious injuries. Evidence before the court showed that the vehicle was hit by 24 bullets.
When court convened on Monday, Justice Sakoane informed the parties that he had not completed editing the judgment because of the complexity of the matter and commitments arising from the ongoing Court of Appeal session.
“Counsel, I have not finished editing the judgment because it is lengthy and I have been busy with the Court of Appeal session. This case involves many witnesses and detailed evidence that needed careful review,” Justice Sakoane said.
During final arguments in February, State Prosecutor Advocate Motene Rafoneke described the shooting as a calculated and merciless attack carried out with the intention to kill.
“My Lord, the manner in which this shooting was executed shows a clear intention that the accused wanted to kill the occupants of the vehicle looking at the number of bullets used,” Adv Rafoneke argued.
“This was a brutal shooting that took no regard whether people would survive or not. It shows that they went there with a clear intention to kill.”
The prosecution argued that evidence presented during trial firmly linked both accused to the attack, alleging that one soldier fired 14 bullets while the other discharged 10 rounds.
The State also rejected the defence’s claim that the soldiers were responding to a military “red alert” issued after bomb attacks targeting senior political and police figures.
According to the accused, they had been instructed to intercept a white vehicle allegedly linked to bombings at the Ha Abia home of former Police Commissioner Khothatso Tsooana and at Moshoeshoe II, where former Prime Minister Thomas Thabane’s partner, Liabiloe Ramoholi, resided.
However, Adv Rafoneke dismissed the explanation as a cover-up, arguing that even current army commander General Mojalefa Letsoela testified that no such red alert existed because such a procedure could only be authorised by the sitting Prime Minister on the advice of the army commander.
Defence lawyer, Adv Sello Tšabeha, however, maintained that his clients acted under military instructions and believed they were responding to a genuine national security threat.
He argued that the soldiers had attempted to stop the vehicle and only intended to disable it after it allegedly tried to flee.
“They then fired a warning shot and that was when the car attempted to leave. They then shot at the wheels to stop it from escaping and unfortunately some bullets missed,” Adv Tšabeha told the court.
He argued that while the incident had tragic consequences, the accused had no direct intention to kill and could at most be guilty of negligence.
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