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| Thomas Thabane: Lesotho PM leaves country as murder charges loom | Thomas Thabane: Lesotho PM leaves country as murder charges loom |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Lesotho's Prime Minister Thomas Thabane has failed to appear in court to face charges of murdering his estranged wife in 2017. | Lesotho's Prime Minister Thomas Thabane has failed to appear in court to face charges of murdering his estranged wife in 2017. |
| An aide and Mr Thabane's son say the 80-year-old leader is receiving treatment in neighbouring South Africa. | An aide and Mr Thabane's son say the 80-year-old leader is receiving treatment in neighbouring South Africa. |
| His current wife Maesaiah Thabane has already been charged with the murder. | His current wife Maesaiah Thabane has already been charged with the murder. |
| Mr Thabane would be the first African leader to be charged with a domestic murder while in office, in a case that has shocked the tiny mountain kingdom. | Mr Thabane would be the first African leader to be charged with a domestic murder while in office, in a case that has shocked the tiny mountain kingdom. |
| He has not commented on the allegations. | He has not commented on the allegations. |
| Police on Thursday said he would be charged with murder in court on Friday. He was expected in court at 09:00 local time (07:00 GMT), reports the Reuters news agency. | |
| "He is not attending court, he has gone for a medical check up in South Africa," his personal secretary Thabo Thakalekoala told news agency AFP, adding that it was a "routine" medical check. | "He is not attending court, he has gone for a medical check up in South Africa," his personal secretary Thabo Thakalekoala told news agency AFP, adding that it was a "routine" medical check. |
| Mr Thabane's previous wife Lipolelo Thabane, 58, was shot dead in the capital, Maseru, two days before Mr Thabane became prime minister in 2017. | Mr Thabane's previous wife Lipolelo Thabane, 58, was shot dead in the capital, Maseru, two days before Mr Thabane became prime minister in 2017. |
| Mr Thabane said on state radio on Thursday that he had served the nation "diligently" and he would retire at the end of July. | Mr Thabane said on state radio on Thursday that he had served the nation "diligently" and he would retire at the end of July. |
| "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. | "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. |
| He did not mention the allegations against him. | He did not mention the allegations against him. |
| The ruling All Basotho Convention had given him a deadline of Thursday to resign. | The ruling All Basotho Convention had given him a deadline of Thursday to resign. |
| How did the murder take place? | 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. | 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. | 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, rather than Maesaiah. | But Lipolelo had already won a separate legal battle to be recognised as First Lady, rather than 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). | 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. | 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. | Maesaiah has not yet been asked to enter a plea. |