Lentswe, Stilfontein - A Lesotho hitman who killed two people and injured five in a Kanana tavern shooting during 2022 was sentenced to life imprisonment for the double murder. However, the man Mokhosi Mopheme Manama (34) was sent to kill that fateful Sunday night in 2022, survived the shooting after being shot eight times. Siyabonga Sikothi (22) and Lebohang Christoffer Mashei (24) were sitting outside the tavern with a group of friends when the gunman opened fire. They were killed and five others wounded.
Manama fled the scene and the Anti-Gang Unit traced him a year later back to Orkney where he was arrested on March 25, 2023. Eyewitnesses positively identified Manama as the hitman and his bail was successfully opposed by the investigating officer, Sgt Boeti Matlhoko and State Prosecutor Chris Kok. He was detained until his sentencing.
The Acting Provincial Police Commissioner, Major General Patrick Asaneng and the Director of Public Prosecution, Dr Rachel Makhari, welcomed the sentences and commended the investigating officers as well as the prosecutors for their collaboration.
Major General Patrick Asaneng further remarked that serious and violent crimes, such as murders and attempted murders committed by criminals in possession of illegal firearms has been identified as a threat to the well-being and safety of law abiding citizens. The successful arrest, recovery of illegal firearm and lengthy sentence such as in this particular case, will go a long way towards addressing the proliferation of firearms in the wrong hands and will ensure that dangerous, heartless criminals are removed from society.Lentswe, Stilfontein - A Lesotho hitman who killed two people and injured five in a Kanana tavern shooting during 2022 was sentenced to life imprisonment for the double murder.
However, the man Mokhosi Mopheme Manama (34) was sent to kill that fateful Sunday night in 2022, survived the shooting after being shot eight times. Siyabonga Sikothi (22) and Lebohang Christoffer Mashei (24) were sitting outside the tavern with a group of friends when the gunman opened fire. They were killed and five others wounded.
Manama fled the scene and the Anti-Gang Unit traced him a year later back to Orkney where he was arrested on March 25, 2023. Eyewitnesses positively identified Manama as the hitman and his bail was successfully opposed by the investigating officer, Sgt Boeti Matlhoko and State Prosecutor Chris Kok. He was detained until his sentencing.
The Acting Provincial Police Commissioner, Major General Patrick Asaneng and the Director of Public Prosecution, Dr Rachel Makhari, welcomed the sentences and commended the investigating officers as well as the prosecutors for their collaboration.
Major General Patrick Asaneng further remarked that serious and violent crimes, such as murders and attempted murders committed by criminals in possession of illegal firearms has been identified as a threat to the well-being and safety of law abiding citizens.
The successful arrest, recovery of illegal firearm and lengthy sentence such as in this particular case, will go a long way towards addressing the proliferation of firearms in the wrong hands and will ensure that dangerous, heartless criminals are removed from society.
