Convicted murderer, Ntsie turns on former lawyer in shocking courtroom twist
Written by Mohale FM on October 8, 2025
The Court of Appeal was thrown into drama when convicted double murderer, Habofanoe Ntsie, accused his former lawyer, Advocate Khosi Lesuthu, of secretly striking a deal with the State to abandon his conviction appeal without his consent.
Ntsie’s new lawyer, Advocate Letuka Molati, told the Court of Appeal — presided over by Chief Justice Sakoane Sakoane, Justices Petrus Damaseb and Johann van der Westhuizen — that he only took over the case on 2 October 2025.
Adv Molati revealed that Adv Lesuthu had entered into an agreement with Crown Counsel Lehlanako Mofilikoane to appeal only the sentence and not the conviction. He said Ntsie never authorised such an arrangement, insisting the “stated case” must be expunged.
He told the court there are seven volumes of the High Court record, though one is missing, and argued that the record’s existence proves the appeal should proceed in full.
Advocate Mofilikoane agreed that since Ntsie had distanced himself from the stated case, the matter should be referred back to the High Court for proper sentencing.
Chief Justice Sakoane subsequently ordered that the stated case be removed from the record and directed the Director of Public Prosecutions to file the complete High Court proceedings.
Ntsie was convicted for the 2004 murders of Souru Masupha and Habaka Mahao. He fled the country in 2012 during judgment and was extradited in March 2022. In February 2023, he was sentenced to 20 and 21 years respectively, which were to run concurrently.
