Man accused of ‘repeatedly stabbing’ wife to death in Scots town on New Year’s Day

A man from East Lothian is facing charges of murdering his wife on New Year’s Day. Mompati Isaacs, aged 38, is accused of killing Keotshepile Isaacs in North Berwick in 2024. The incident allegedly involved Isaacs shouting at his 33-year-old wife, known as Naso, before pushing her onto a bed and repeatedly stabbing and hitting her with a knife. Additionally, Isaacs is charged with engaging in a pattern of abusive behaviour towards his wife between October 2022 and the day of the alleged murder, which reportedly took place in North Berwick, Edinburgh, and in Botswana, her home country.

The accusations against Isaacs include physical assault, monitoring his wife’s mobile phone, attempting to control her clothing choices, sending abusive messages, and forcing her to leave a property with nowhere else to go. Another charge states that Isaacs was threatening and abusive towards another man whom he accused of having an affair with his wife. During a hearing at the High Court in Glasgow, Isaacs’ defence lawyer, Gareth Jones KC, mentioned that Isaacs was willing to plead guilty to the reduced charge of culpable homicide, citing “diminished responsibility” as a defence. However, this plea was not accepted by prosecutors.

The prosecution, led by Advocate depute Ali Murray, is preparing for a trial scheduled to begin in September 2025 in Edinburgh and could last up to eight days. Keotshepile Isaacs’s funeral was held in Botswana in February 2024 after an online fundraising campaign raised over £3,000 to repatriate her body. Stay updated on the latest news by signing up for our daily newsletter.

In tragic news from North Berwick, a man is accused of murdering his wife in a violent incident on New Year’s Day. Mompati Isaacs allegedly killed his wife, Keotshepile Isaacs, by repeatedly stabbing and assaulting her with a knife. The prosecution has outlined a series of abusive behaviours leading up to the tragic event, and a trial is set to commence in Edinburgh in September 2025. The case highlights the importance of addressing domestic violence and ensuring support for victims of such crimes.