Bosch documentary banned
2001-04-21 09:43
Gabarone - The office of Botswana's attorney general has ruled that had Botswana TV aired a documentary programme on the case of Marietta Bosch and her execution, the broadcast would have resulted in litigation by the government.
The president's office stopped BTV from screening its self-produced documentary.
Two lawyers from the attorney general's chambers subsequently viewed the documentary. They pointed out several areas that would have provoked legal suits.
The director of Information and Broadcasting, Andrew Sesinyi, said the documentary would not be broadcast.
"If the contentious aspects of the tape could be edited out, the circumstances that warranted its transmission earlier no longer exist due to the lapse of time," said Sesinyi.
He is also reported to have said the department of Information is to take stern measures to ensure that a case of this nature, which could have resulted in litigation, does not occur again.
"Correct procedures were not followed in the production of the documentary. Legal advice should have been sought before it was scheduled for transmission," Sesinyi said.
Bosch was convicted in December 1999 for the murder of her best friend Maria Wolmarans. Bosch and Wolmarans' husband Tienie married a year after the killing during a period when she was on bail.
The Court of Appeal in January 2001 upheld her conviction and death sentence, saying she was a wicked and despicable woman who had carefully planned to kill Wolmarans so she could marry Tienie.
Wolmarans was shot with a 9mm Browning pistol.
Her execution on March 31 was two months after her High Court Appeal was refused and only days after President Festus Mogae had refused clemency.
Bosch was denied access to her husband and her children before the execution. They had tried to see her on the Friday after the death warrant had been served, but were refused access.
Neither they nor her lawyers were told the execution had been scheduled. The family learnt of her death on a news bulletin while driving to the prison on the Monday after she had been hanged. - Sapa
- SAPA