Advocate Motiea Teele (KC) Calls for Recusal of Judge in Thabiso Lekitla Murder Case, Citing Potential Bias

Advocate Motiea Teele (KC), the legal representative for Thabiso Lekitla, who is accused of murder, has raised concerns about the impartiality of the presiding judge in the case. Teele argued that Justice Mabatsoeneng Hlaele, who is overseeing the matter, is likely to be biased when hearing the case. This concern was expressed on Tuesday when Advocate Teele filed an application for the judge’s recusal.

In his address to the court, Advocate Teele pointed out that the attitude and comments made by Justice Hlaele during court proceedings on September 2nd and 3rd, 2024, when a postponement was requested, were a cause for concern. These remarks, according to Teele, raised doubts about the judge’s impartiality, leading to the decision to seek recusal.

The request for the postponement, which was made by Advocate Lepeli Molapo, another lawyer representing the accused, was intended to give Thabiso Lekitla time to secure funds to pay for both a senior and junior lawyer. According to Teele, Lekitla had not yet fully paid his legal fees, making the postponement necessary to ensure he could retain appropriate legal representation.

Teele emphasized that the comments made by the court during this request for postponement indicated a potential bias on the part of the presiding judge, which could compromise the fairness of the proceedings. “It is important that the accused is given a fair trial, and there are concerns that this may not happen if Justice Hlaele continues to preside over the matter,” Teele stated.

As the legal process continues, the court will now have to deliberate on the application for recusal and determine whether Justice Hlaele should step down from the case to ensure the integrity and fairness of the trial.

The outcome of the recusal application will be a critical moment in the murder trial, as it could lead to the reassignment of the case to a different judge if Teele’s concerns are upheld. However, if the application is denied, Justice Hlaele will continue to preside over the trial, with the defense likely to closely monitor the judge’s conduct in future proceedings.