By Staff Reporter
QWAQWA – Lehlohonolo Maketoane (41), who is suspected of murdering his magistrate wife Mamello Thamae (40) and stuffing her body in the boot of their car, is expected back in the Mokhotlong magistrate court in Lesotho on Monday October 9, 2023.
Maketoane appeared before same magistrate court on Tuesday September 26, 2023 where he was remanded in custody.
According to a statement from the Lesotho Mounted Police Service (LMPS) Maketoane confessed to killing his wife after she had filed for divorce.
During his first appearance (according to reports by Citizen), the head of Mokhotlong detectives, Detective Inspector Limpho Pitso told the court that upon questioning, Maketoane confessed to killing Thamae, blaming his actions on their broken-down marriage.
Pitso said the accused said Thamae had filed for divorce after their marriage hit rock bottom.
According to Pitso, the South African Police Service (Saps) alerted the LMPS of the missing couple.
A vehicle tracker showed they had skipped the border via the Ficksburg border post.
Local police traced the car to a guesthouse in Mokhotlong, a 230km drive from Ficksburg.
They found the couple’s vehicle, a Kia Sportage, at the lodge and located Maketoane after the pair were reported missing from their home in Heilbron, Free State.
“A search was undertaken, and two bags containing men’s and women’s clothes were found.
“A woman was found wearing pyjamas and tied up in the boot.
“A piece of cloth was stuffed into her mouth, with a rope tied around her head and fastened on the mouth,” Pitso was quoted as saying.
