This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-51571405
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 0 | Version 1 |
---|---|
Lesotho's Thomas Thabane to be charged with murdering his wife | Lesotho's Thomas Thabane to be charged with murdering his wife |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Lesotho's Prime Minister Thomas Thabane, 80, is to be charged with the murder of his estranged wife Lipolelo Thabane, police have said. | Lesotho's Prime Minister Thomas Thabane, 80, is to be charged with the murder of his estranged wife Lipolelo Thabane, police have said. |
Mr Thabane announced he would be stepping down in July because of old age, without commenting about the case. | Mr Thabane announced he would be stepping down in July because of old age, without commenting about the case. |
His current wife Maesaiah Thabane has already been charged with the murder. | His current wife Maesaiah Thabane has already been charged with the murder. |
He would be the first leader in southern Africa to be charged with murder while in office, in a case that has shocked the tiny mountain kingdom. | He would be the first leader in southern Africa to be charged with murder while in office, in a case that has shocked the tiny mountain kingdom. |
Lipolelo, 58, was shot dead two days before Mr Thabane became prime minister in 2017. | Lipolelo, 58, was shot dead two days before Mr Thabane became prime minister in 2017. |
At the time, he described her killing as "senseless" but police now accuse him of being involved in her killing. | At the time, he described her killing as "senseless" but police now accuse him of being involved in her killing. |
"The prime minister is going to be charged with the murder," Deputy Commissioner of Police Paseka Mokete was quoted by Reuters news agency as saying. | "The prime minister is going to be charged with the murder," Deputy Commissioner of Police Paseka Mokete was quoted by Reuters news agency as saying. |
"The police are preparing directives and he will probably be charged tomorrow [Friday]," he added. | "The police are preparing directives and he will probably be charged tomorrow [Friday]," he added. |
What does the prime minister say? | |
Mr Thabane said on state radio that he had served the nation "diligently" and he would retire at the end of July, Reuters reports. | |
"I've worked for a peaceful and stable Lesotho. Today... at my age, I have lost most of my energy," he was quoted as saying. | |
The ruling All Basotho Convention had given him a deadline of Thursday to resign. | |
How did the murder take place? | |
Lipolelo was gunned down at close range on the side of a dirt road while returning to her home in a small village on the outskirts of the capital, Maseru. | |
She was involved in bitter divorce proceedings with Mr Thabane when she was killed. | She was involved in bitter divorce proceedings with Mr Thabane when she was killed. |
At the time, the prime minister was living with Maesaiah, 42, as if she were his wife. | |
But Lipolelo had already won a separate legal battle to be recognised as first lady, as opposed to Maesaiah. | But Lipolelo had already won a separate legal battle to be recognised as first lady, as opposed to Maesaiah. |
Maesaiah accompanied Mr Thabane to his inauguration, following his estranged wife's death. | Maesaiah accompanied Mr Thabane to his inauguration, following his estranged wife's death. |
Two months later she and Mr Thabane got married in a Catholic ceremony held at a packed stadium in Maseru. | Two months later she and Mr Thabane got married in a Catholic ceremony held at a packed stadium in Maseru. |
Maesaiah was charged with her rival's murder on 5 February, and is out on bail of about $67 (£52). | |
She has also been charged with the attempted murder of a family friend Thato Sibolla, who was with Lipolelo at the time of the shooting and is expected to be a key witness in the murder case. | |
Maesaiah has not yet been asked to enter a plea. |