10 Mar 2025

David Holland, a 36-year-old Briton, was on Friday granted bail by the Francistown Magistrate’s Court, in a case where he is facing charges of common assault, intimidation and assault occasioning bodily harm.
Principal Magistrate Tshepo Magetse granted bail for reasons that the state was the cause of non-commencement of trial Friday.
 The accused person is to pay bail cash amounting to P20 000, subject to the satisfaction of the Clerk of Court, to provide two Batswana sureties who will bind themselves to P20 000 each.
The other condition is that the accused shall surrender to the investigating officer or station commander or to the DPP his passport and travelling documents.
 The accused shall not apply for any travel documents throughout the duration of this matter, unless it is with the approval of the court upon application.
Prior to that, Prosecutor Gasemotho Pitlagano asked the court to postpone the trial as the core witness was not around and is said to have gone to seek asylum in the UK. The defence attorney, Mr Nkulelwko Fuzwayo told the court that the trial must proceed as it had been on record that the core witness was not within this jurisdiction, which had been known to the state for eover three months now.
 He said it would be unfair to the accused as he had been looking forward for his day in court to clear his name and regain his liberty. ENDS