A former special constable, who was based at Tatitown Police Station, along with three other men are on trial for four stock theft-related offences.

According to the charge sheet, ex-police officer Moses Mokuelele, Batanani Moregwe, Otshwanetse Ntswe and Tshotego Khethani acting in concert with a common purpose allegedly stole four sheep They are said to have loaded the livestock in a Ford Courier to deliver them for sale at Way Side Farm at different dates in September 2018 in Mosu and Makobo villages. The sheep are valued at

P26,000. When the quartet appeared before Magistrate Tshepo Magetse for Case Management Conference (CMC) on Friday, prosecutor Leano Kgalemang told the court that the prosecution will rely on the photo album and other documentary evidence during trial. Kgalemang said the State will do so because all the sheep that were supposed to be used as evidence in the cases have since died in government custody save for about four or five offspring.

Kgalemang also stated that the sheep were poisoned.

Asked to react to what Kgalemang had told the court, defence attorney Martin Maiba who is representing other accused persons save for Mokuelele said “we would like to inspect whatever is in the possession of the State”. In reply to what Kgalemang stated, Mokuelele said: “I don’t want to use the photo album and other documentary evidence alone during trial. I don’t want to do so because the photos were taken in my absence and I was never even taken to the crime scenes.

I also want to cross-check if the sheep that are in the photo albums correspond with the ones that are in the custody of the State hence my apprehension with using the photo albums during trial.”

Maiba and Mokuelele also stated that they will not be making any admissions.

Trial dates in the matter have been set for August 1, 2, 4 and 7.