The long-awaited trial of four suspects accused of the brutal 2022 murder of Kopong schoolteacher Barulaganye Aston is finally scheduled to begin in the High Court.
The trial will start on August 9 before Justice Oteng Motlhala, putting an end to years of delays and procedural hurdles that kept the case stuck in lower courts.
The accused are Oageng Moagi Letsholo, Leufty Gaolemogwe Kosie, Outlwile Aston, and Kebaleboge Ntsebe. They all face charges related to the murder of Aston, who was teaching at Kopong Junior Secondary School when she was killed.
Letsholo, currently serving a prison sentence for an unrelated offense, also faces an additional charge of rape connected to the same incident. Prosecutors allege that he sexually assaulted the victim before or during the events surrounding her death.
The victim was married to the third accused, Outlwile Aston, whose alleged role in the case has attracted intense public scrutiny since the matter first entered the courts.
The prosecution faced a major setback recently with the death of a key witness, Gabathuse Molelu, the victim’s brother. Molelu passed away in May 2025, leaving the State without a witness believed to be crucial to the case.
Molelu had taken on the care of the victim’s children after her death and was closely involved in managing her estate. His testimony was expected to carry significant weight because of his close connection to the victim and his knowledge of events following her death.
Though it’s unclear how this loss will impact the prosecution’s case, the trial is set to proceed as planned. The State will rely on its remaining witnesses and the evidence gathered during the investigation.
This case has been plagued by numerous delays since the accused first appeared in court, with procedural complications slowing its transfer to the High Court.
Earlier, the third accused, Outlwile Aston, was also accused of interfering with police investigations in the early stages of the case—an issue that surfaced as investigators continued to gather evidence.
The trial is expected to draw significant public interest, especially in Kopong and the surrounding communities, where the victim was well-known as an educator. Family members, local residents, and other interested parties are likely to follow the proceedings closely as the High Court hears what stands as one of the area’s most high-profile murder cases in recent memory.
With trial dates now set, the case enters a critical phase as both prosecution and defense prepare to present their evidence before the High Court.