Four men accused of killing police officers were remanded in police custody when they appeared in the North West High Court on Wednesday.
Benjamin Jacobs, 42, Jeremiah Mongale, 26, Rapulana Keikantse, 25, and Matthews Modukane, 20, are charged with the murders of Constable Simon Ngakaemang Ntsekeletsa, 50, and 42-year-old Sergeant Mojalefa Horatius Molete.
The accused were denied bail and the case was remanded to August 14 to 18 for cross-examination and presentation of more evidence.
The case was previously shifted to July 26 for further trial. However, National Prosecuting Authority spokesperson Henry Mamothame said judge Tebogo Djadje had other matters to attend to from Wednesday to Friday.
“The state has withdrawn the charges against the 16-year-old who is the son of one of the accused persons,” Mamothame said.
“He has turned state witness and he took the stand and testified of how things unfolded on the day leading up to the murder of the two officers.
“The four had previously submitted a guilty plea proposal, which was rejected by the state.”
The accused are also facing charges of malicious damage to property, robbery with aggravating circumstances, possession of ammunition, possession of a semi-automatic firearm, kidnapping, possession of ammunition with intent to commit an offence, and defeating the ends of justice.
“According to police reports, the two deceased officers attended to a stock theft incident in Mareestane, however, the pair failed to return to the station and were declared missing.
“A search operation was conducted and their remains were later discovered at the back of their burnt state vehicle on 27 July 2021 in Ganyesa,” Mamothame said.
“Upon arrest, police discovered the deceased firearms, two cellphones, as well as SIM cards that were destroyed and thrown in a pit toilet at the home of one of the accused.
“The four are currently in police custody as they were denied bail. Their attorneys are expected to cross-examine the 16-year-old witness when trial resumes.”
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