The High Court will use video conferencing to obtain evidence from a German witness in last year’s robbery at Litšokeleng, Malealea in the Mafeteng district, in which a man was shot and killed.

In a ruling on the best method to obtain evidence from Aldenhoff Tobias, witness to the shooting to death of his companion Aldenhoff Tobias in a robbery, Justice Semapo Peete said although a video conference is not provided for in the Criminal Procedure and Evidence Act of 1981, the facility can be used to project the witness's face on to a screen.

Accused Keketso Lekota will be present when Tobias is giving evidence unlike in a commission, where he would have been left in the country, while the judge, the prosecution and defence heard evidence in Germany, also an expensive journey, Justice Peete said, showing the advantages of a video conference.

The Ministries of Foreign Affairs in Lesotho and in Germany will prepare for the video conference, and everything possible will be made to ensure that the conference takes place on November 14, he said.

The case is prosecuted by Ms Lonea Makoko, while Advocate Hae Phoofolo represents the accused.

04 November 2005