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Teen dies after fight in tavern dice game

Church-going father says if his son had mended his ways, he might still be alive

SOME time in January, Joseph Louterie was woken up by a furious young man brandishing an axe.

According to Louterie, the teenager was incensed after he had been allegedly assaulted by Louterie's son Bapaletswe Lamola at a local tavern in Borelelo township, in Swartruggens, North West.

Louterie said the youngster threatened to kill his son. But, Louterie had managed to calm him down.

However, on Friday, it seems the young man might have carried out his threat when he allegedly stabbed Lamola in the chest after an argument at a tavern.

"I didn't think he would actually go ahead and kill my son," Louterie said.

"On that night, he was carrying an axe and I could tell that he was angry, but I managed to calm him down and even convinced him to go to bed," he said.

"The thought that my son is no longer alive is painful."

According to the police, Lamola and his alleged killer had had an argument over a dice game earlier.

Police spokeswoman Captain Amanda Funani said that Lamola had allegedly stabbed the suspect's 15-year-old brother in the shoulder before his brother intervened.

"His brother then stood up for him and stabbed the victim in the chest.

"He [Lamola] was rushed to Swartruggens Hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival," she said.

"We are investigating a case of murder.

"The suspect is currently in his parents' care and will be handed over to social workers tomorrow [Monday] for an assessment, while we are busy with investigations," Funani said.

Louterie, a ZCC member, said if his son had mended his ways, he might still be alive.

"I had spoken to him on a number of occasions to quit drinking, but he did not listen," Louterie said.

"He would go out with friends and come home late. Whenever we spoke to him, he always promised to change. He told me recently that he would quit drinking soon."

- selebim@sowetan.co.za

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