High Court rules Adv Tleane should be tried for murder of girlfriend
Adv Lawrence Tleane stands accused of murdering his partner, Tumi Seshuene in Lesedi Park outside the city in December 2021 when he is said to have run her over with his vehicle.
POLOKWANE – The Polokwane High Court last week ruled that the case against Adv Lawrence Tleane should proceed as a murder trial.
The defence in the matter originally sought to have the case tried as one of culpable homicide in a longstanding application, while the state pressed for a charge of murder.
Tleane’s legal counsel had argued that they interpreted evidence at their disposal as showing there was no intent on his part to murder his partner, Tumi Seshuene in Lesedi Park outside the city in December 2021 when he is said to have run her over with his vehicle.
Social community activism organisation, the Lentswe Laka Foundation (LLF) followed the case from its early stages and shared with Polokwane Observer that the court deserved to be commended for what they described as “a groundbreaking” decision.
LLF member Maletsema Ramokone initially said, given Tleane’s “high profile allegiances” as an advocate of the high court, that they viewed his application to have the charge changed, as an attempt to manipulate the justice system.
“This ruling reflects a significant stride forward in our collective effort to combat such atrocities. It highlights that attempts to manipulate the law will not succeed, as it stands firm in pursuit of truth and justice for victims and their families,” Ramokone explained.
This trial was scheduled for March last year, but Tleane’s legal counsel brought about an interest to change the charge after the date ad been set.
During his bail proceedings in September 2022 in the Polokwane Magistrate’s Court, the matter was provisionally withdrawn as the docket could not be found on the court roll.
Later, NPA spokesperson Mashudu Malabi-Dzhangi announced that the docket had been found and placed in the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions for a decision on whether to reinstate, which was subsequently done. The trial will start on November 18.
