Maseru, Jun 17 — Retired Major 'Mamatela Hokinyana says the late Maaparankoe Mahao was still alive when he was brought to the Makoanyane Military Hospital following his shooting in 2015.

This she said in her evidence in chief as one of the defence witnesses. She testified that when she approached a white vehicle which was parked at the ambulance area while she was looking for paramedics. She stated that she saw Mahao when the window of that vehicle opened and she asked him what was going on. She indicated that he was breathing
with difficulty adding that he opened the door of the vehicle with force and got off.

The witness told the Court that Mahao leaned against the vehicle adding that she supported him and further asked him what was the matter. She said the deceased replied by asking for help. She indicated that one of his arms had palpitations showing that it was injured. She said she tried to hold him by the waist as he was resisting support adding that he eventually
went free but she managed to hold him again.

She testified that Mahao asked for help again and she assured him that he was already being assisted. She stated that the Director Medical Services and Private Sechele arrived with a trolley on which Mahao was placed. She indicated that working together with paramedics,
Mahao was taken to the emergency treatment room where doctors tried to resuscitate him.

Major Hokinyana pointed out that efforts by paramedics to locate a vein on Mahao failed. She added that she joined those who were trying to identify wounds further adding that they carefully cut off a jersey he had on, making sure that they avoided causing more harm to him. She said they tried to control his bleeding by dressing his wounds on the chest and arm.

She informed the court that at 15:54 the doctors and Director Medical Services who were attending to Mahao stopped and he was pronounced dead. She indicated that when she looked at him, his eyes were open but not blinking, then she closed them. She testified that they turned the deceased as he was still bleeding and saw an open exit wound at the centre of his back on the spine. She said they used gauze and adhesive bandage to dress the wound.

The witness further said they removed some of the linen which was soaked in blood and placed it in plastic bags while placing some in water to wash off the blood. She added that they also washed the clothes of the deceased emphasising that the aim was not to defeat
the police investigations but to ensure hygiene.

The accused who include the Retired Army Commander Lieutenant General Tlali Kamoli are alleged to have intentionally shot and killed Mahao at Ha Lekete in Mokema on June 25 2015. They are also charged with attempted murder, theft and unlawful damage to property. The case is before Justice Charles Hungwe.