Klerksdorp – The man accused of killing a nurse by slitting her throat in Ipeleng, near Schweitzer-Reneke in North West, will go on trial in May.
The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) said 24-year-old Bongane Gregory Shebi would go on trial on 20 May 2024 at the North West High Court, sitting in Klerksdorp.
NPA spokesperson in the North West division Henry Mamothame, said during pretrial conferencing, the state and the defence confirmed that consultations were completed, and all the necessary documents were provided by the state.
Shebi is facing a charge of murder and one of robbery for the alleged murder of Iris Mamotlakana Mohokare, a nurse at Ipeleng Clinic.
She was murdered at her rented home in Ipeleng township, on 12 October 2022.
Her landlord discovered her bloodied body on 13 October 2022, with her throat cut.
She subsequently informed the police, who immediately started investigating the cause of her death.
“The accused became a person of interest, after police received information while doing investigations, that he was spotted not far from where the incident took place, walking with bloodied clothes,” Mamothame said.
“A search for him ensued, and he was ultimately arrested on 15 October 2022.”
Shebi reportedly confessed to the crime and later took the police to point out where he had thrown away the bloodied clothes he was wearing.
“According to police reports, the accused alleges he was in the company of another person, but the motive only became clear in the accused person’s confession, that he and another person intended to rob the deceased,” Mamothame said.
“He further alleges he is not the one who stabbed the deceased, but it was the person whom he was with.
“Police have indicated that evidence obtained at the scene indicates that only one person was at the scene at the time of the commissioning of this offence.”
Mohokare was stabbed a day after she was promoted to manager at Ipelegeng Clinic.
Mamothame said investigations have been completed and the state was ready to proceed with the trial.
Shebi will remain in police custody after he was denied bail.
