March 07, 2008, 12:45
A South African man and a Botswana citizen have six weeks to appeal after being handed the death sentence by the Lobatse High Court in Botswana. The judge said the two would be hanged on a date to be determined by the president of Botswana.
Michael Molefe, 40, of Soweto and Brandon Sampson, 33, a Botswana national, were sentenced to death for the murder of two Zimbabwean nationals during an armed robbery near Gaborone seven years ago. The two were found guilty three weeks ago.
Judge Maruping Dikotelo took less than an hour to read the sentence before a court full to capacity. The judge said the two would be hanged on a date to be determined by the president of Botswana. They have only six weeks to appeal against the sentence.
A Zimbabwean national Sam Mondamberi and Botswana citizen Robert Ncube were shot and stabbed to death during an armed robbery at Mogoditshane near Gaborone. The South Africans have been in custody since their arrest in December 2000.
Sentence shocks accused's loved ones
Bandon Sampson and Michael Molefe were found guilty of killing their victims after robbing them of about 90 000 Pula in cash. The court believes it was a revenge attack by the two accused.
Relatives and friends of the accused were in tears and shock filled the high court as soon as the sentencing was pronounced by the judge.
Botswana is one of many countries that still retains the death penalty for convicts globally. Thus far, 40 people, including two South Africans, Mariette Bosch and Lehlohonolo Kobedi, have been hanged in Botswana since the country's independence in 1966.
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