Lesotho PM in court charged with murdering wife
Lesotho Prime Minister Thomas Thabane appeared in court on Monday (February 24) charged with murdering his wife.
Wearing a blue suit and blue tie, the 80-year-old sat in court alongside his present wife, Maesaiah, who is also charged with the murder.
At the pre-trial hearing, the magistrate ruled that Lesotho's high court will decide if the prime minister can claim immunity.
(SOUNDBITE) (English) MAGISTRATE PHETHISE MOTANYANE SAYING:
''I find that there is indeed a substantial question of law, raised. The application for referral of the matter to the High Court is granted disparate. I now hand down the ruling. Court is adjourned."
Thomas Thabane's wife Lipolelo was shot dead in June 2017.
They were going through divorce proceedings at the time.
It happened two days before he took office for a second stint as PM, and two months before he married Maesaiah.
Police suspected Maesaiah, who's 42, of ordering assassins to do the job.
Both deny any involvement.
Thabane has said he will resign at the end of July.
But several members of his own party want him to go sooner to avert political chaos.
