MASERU — A woman who allegedly saw two men abduct the late Astoria Bakery managing director Thabo Phohleli at his gate in Ha Tsolo told the High Court on Monday that she could not remember how they looked.
Phohleli was abducted at gunpoint and handcuffed before being bundled into the back of his van at his home at Ha Tsolo on September 5 last year.
His body was later found by the police along Phuthiatsana River.
The crown witness, Moliehi Tšupane, said she could not remember what the men looked like while being cross-examined by one of the defence lawyers Advocate Thulo Hoeane who is representing one of the accused, Tello Mabusela.
Mabusela, together with three others, Seabata Ramohajane, Mareka Nthejane and Thabiso Sephula are facing charges of murder, robbery, attempted murder and assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.
They have all pleaded not guilty.
“If I knew these people I would not have a problem to tell the court who they are,” Tšupane said.
She said she was sitting inside her sister’s house watching television when she noticed something unusual outside at their neighbour’s gate.
“I saw two men at Ntate Phohleli’s gate. They were sandwiching him, one was pointing a gun at him as the other one handcuffed him,” Tšupane said.
“They threw him into the back of the van and drove in the direction of Linakotseng,” she said, adding that Phohleli was sitting facing downwards.
“I cannot describe these people because I ran into the room to get a phone to alert neighbours and the police. I then phoned Thetsane police,” Tšupane said.
“The police came back to us in the evening and told us that they had found Phohleli’s body,” she said.
Another crown witness, ’Muso Mokoatsi told the court that he was out herding his cattle when he saw a car speeding towards him about 500 metres away.
“But what was surprising was that the car was travelling along a footpath used by villagers to take their scotch carts to the fields,” Mokoatsi said.
“When it finally stopped, I saw three people coming out. The man in front was pulling a person while the other was pushing him from behind.”
He said he later saw a police vehicle arriving after about 10 minutes.
Mokoatsi said it was in the night and as he drove his cattle home he met people who were enquiring what had happened.
He said he later followed other villagers to the spot where Phohleli was killed.
The defence team consists of Advocates Letuka Molati, Zwelakhe Mda, Motlatsi Nnku, and Thulo Hoeane.
The trial continues.
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