Lesotho’s embattled Prime Minister Thomas Thabane accused of murdering his estranged wife has appeared in court in the capital Maseru.

The 80-year-old failed to show up on Friday to face charges of murdering Lipolelo Thabane, who was shot dead two days before his inauguration in 2017.

On Friday, his son and spokesman said he had gone to neighbouring South Africa for medical treatment.

Mr Thabane has not commented on the case but said at his inauguration that his estranged wife’s killing was “senseless”.

He was accompanied to court by his current wife Maesaiah Thabane, 42, who was charged earlier with the murder of Lipolelo and is out on bail.