Mahao’s “killer” seeks audience with slain commander’s family
…says he never intended to kill “my relative” Moorosi Tsiane A soldier who fatally shot former army commander Lieutenant General (Lt-Gen) Maaparankoe Mahao in June 2015 has expressed a desire to meet the slain commander’s family, saying the tragedy continues to weigh heavily on him more than a decade later. Testifying... The post Mahao’s “killer” seeks audience with slain commander’s family appeared first on Lesotho Times.
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…says he never intended to kill “my relative”
Moorosi Tsiane
A soldier who fatally shot former army commander Lieutenant General (Lt-Gen) Maaparankoe Mahao in June 2015 has expressed a desire to meet the slain commander’s family, saying the tragedy continues to weigh heavily on him more than a decade later.
Testifying in his own defence before Justice Charles Hungwe in the High Court this week, Captain (Capt) Haleo Makara said he hoped to one day sit down with the Mahao family to discuss the painful events of 25 June 2015.
He insisted he never intended to kill the former army chief and said there had never been any personal hostility between them.
During re-examination by his lawyer, Attorney Qhalehang Letsika, Makara said his family shares the same clan ties as the Mahaos, making the incident even more painful for him.
Asked what message he wished to convey to the Mahao family, Makara acknowledged the deep pain caused by Lt-Gen Mahao’s death and maintained that he too had suffered emotionally because of the incident.
“I am saying to the Mahao family that what happened at Mokema, I know, has hurt them deeply. I was also hurt because I had no intention and never planned for what happened. There was no feud between us,” Makara told the court.
“But circumstances surrounding our work, and the order that had been given that he should be arrested, led to the situation…”
However, Makara stopped short of directly asking the Mahao family for forgiveness. Instead, he repeatedly expressed a wish to meet them personally should he regain his freedom.
“If, by the mercy of God, I find myself out of prison, I would ask to approach the family and discuss with them the issues at hand which have hurt them and me as well. It was never my intention to kill Brigadier Mahao.”
His remarks came days after he admitted under cross-examination by Crown Counsel Advocate Lehlohonolo Phooko that he fired the fatal shot while attempting to “protect” then Special Forces commander, the late Colonel Tefo Hashatsi, who was leading the operation to arrest Lt-Gen Mahao.
Makara testified that he believed Hashatsi’s life was in danger during the confrontation at Mokema and that his decision to shoot was made in response to what he perceived as an imminent threat to his commander.
The admission has become one of the most closely watched developments in the trial, which seeks to establish the circumstances surrounding Lt-Gen Mahao’s killing — an incident that shook Lesotho and triggered years of political instability and legal fallout.
Makara is among nine soldiers standing trial over the fatal shooting. He is accused alongside former Lesotho Defence Force commander Lt-Gen Tlali Kamoli, Captain Litekanyo Nyakane, Sergeant Lekhooa Moepi, Sergeant Motsamai Fako, Corporal Marasi ’Moleli, Corporal Motšoane Machai, Corporal Mohlalefi Seitlheko and Corporal Tšitso Ramoholi.
They face charges of murdering Lt-Gen Mahao and attempting to murder his nephews, Mahao Mahao and Mabilikoe Leuta, who were travelling with him when soldiers allegedly opened fire on their vehicle.
The accused are also charged with malicious damage to property after allegedly riddling Lt-Gen Mahao’s white Nissan half-truck with bullets during the operation.
Kamoli faces additional charges of theft relating to Lt-Gen Mahao’s 9mm pistol and Samsung Galaxy cellphone, which prosecutors allege were taken after the shooting.
The trial continues…
The post Mahao’s “killer” seeks audience with slain commander’s family appeared first on Lesotho Times.
