The inquest into the death of the former Principal Chief of Phamong, Chief Bereng  L. Bereng has been postponed by the Maseru Magistrate Court to Thursday next week and other subsequent dates in January next year. The inquest was postponed after the first prosecution witness, Jacobean Metlae completed her evidence-in-chief in which she explained that she was with the Chief and his driver, one Poulo, on the day of the chief's death which took place in March this year.        

The Witness told the court that they left B.P Garage which is situated next to Lakeside Hotel accompanying their friends to ha Matala. She told the court that on their way back, when they were next to Lefikeng they met a white 4x4 vehicle which bore no registration numbers which was travelling in the opposite direction, saying after passing
them the vehicle made a U-turn and then followed them without showing any signs of stopping them. The witness told the court that the chief asked the driver to slow down so that they could find the intention of the vehicle following them but it did not pass nor stop them.           

She further said they took the direction of Ha Leqele where they left two girls whom they had given a lift, adding that when they were next to the Institute of Extra-Mural Studies the driver of the other vehicle stopped them and asked their driver why he was driving so recklessly. Jocobean Metlae told the court that another man from the white
vehicle asked the Chief to get out and afterwards she heard a gunshot even though she could not tell who was shooting, adding that she only realised that the Chief was holding a pistol after he got back into the vehicle.             

The witness testified that from then she heard a lot of shooting and saw the front windscreen of their vehicle shattering, adding that she then hid under the seat of their vehicle and did not know what ensued afterwards. The inquest was then postponed after one of the Defence Lawyers and the Presiding Magistrate decided to go into the chambers to decide whether cross-examination could be postponed until later so that one of the Defence Lawyers, Advocate Zwelakhe Mda could consult with his clients.              

Meanwhile, 'Muso Ramakhula from ha Hoohlo appeared briefly before the Maseru Magistrate Court accused of culpable homicide. The court heard that he killed one Thabang Mokhafola after he hit him with the vehicle he was driving on Saturday last week at Lefikeng. He was granted 300 Maluti bail on condition that he reports at Hoohlo Police Post every Saturday, attends both remands and the trial which is scheduled for 15 November this year.

01 November,2002