On New Year’s Day 2024, a quiet residential street in North Berwick, East Lothian, became the scene of a devastating crime that would reverberate across Scotland and beyond. Keotshepile Naso Isaacs, a 33-year-old mother of three and beloved carer, was brutally murdered by her husband, Mompati Dodo Isaacs, in their family home. The shocking details of the case, revealed through court proceedings and subsequent sentencing, have shed light on the harrowing realities of domestic abuse and the enduring scars it leaves on families and communities.
According to BBC News, Mompati Dodo Isaacs, aged 39 and originally from Botswana, stabbed his wife nine times in the head, neck, and body during the early hours of January 1, 2024. The attack took place while their children and another family member were asleep in the house on Craigleith Avenue. During the trial at the High Court in Edinburgh, Judge Lady Ross described Isaacs’ actions as “deliberate and wicked,” emphasizing the brutality of the knife attack against a woman who was “utterly defenceless.” She added, “This was an utterly despicable act.”
The court heard that Isaacs, who had moved to the UK before the Covid pandemic to work in IT, had a long history of controlling and abusive behavior towards his wife. Evidence presented included accounts of Isaacs controlling Naso’s income, tracking her mobile phone, and sending her abusive text messages. Witnesses described how Naso would confide in friends about “infidelity” and that “Dodo used to hit her.” The abuse was not confined to their life in Scotland; incidents in Botswana included Isaacs throwing a box of beer at her, slapping her face, and kicking her. Dr Emma Forbes, National Procurator Fiscal for Domestic Abuse, told the court, “Mompati Dodo Isaacs is a dangerous and controlling man. His campaign of domestic abuse – culminating in this violent murder – has robbed Keotshepile Naso Isaacs of her future and left her young children and loved ones to deal with this unimaginable loss.”
Isaacs’ suspicion that Naso was having an affair with her colleague, Victor Unachukwa, was a recurring theme in the months leading up to the murder. According to court testimony, Isaacs had been drinking on the night of the attack and armed himself with a kitchen knife before waking Naso and stabbing her on the bed. In a letter written after his arrest, Isaacs admitted, “I stabbed her in the back of the neck.” He claimed his wife had sent Mr. Unachukwa a “love you” text and received gifts such as a black dress, shoes, and perfume. Yet, the allegations of infidelity were denied, and no evidence was found to support Isaacs’ suspicions.
Isaacs’ defense lawyer, Gareth Jones KC, described his client as a “sad and pathetic man” who could not cope with his wife’s perceived infidelity. Jones told the court, “He is frankly at a loss to understand why he acted the way he did.” Isaacs’ mother also testified that her son had a history of mental illness, including anxiety and depression, and had hoped that moving to the UK would bring him better care. However, the jury ultimately rejected Isaacs’ claim of diminished responsibility, finding him guilty of murder in September 2025.
The sentencing, delivered on October 31, 2025, was unequivocal. Judge Lady Ross ordered Isaacs to serve a life sentence with a minimum term of 21 years. She addressed Isaacs directly, stating, “New Year’s Day normally is a time for thinking about new beginnings and the future. But in the early hours of January 1, 2024, in the family home in North Berwick, you brought Naso’s life to an end. In doing so, you attacked with horrible and sustained violence. You took a knife from the kitchen. You returned to the bedroom and woke up Naso and stabbed her nine times to the head and neck.” The judge also highlighted the profound loss suffered by the couple’s three children, noting, “You deprived three children, who are still young, of her love and care. That’s a horrible loss.”
The crime was further aggravated by the fact that Isaacs did not seek medical help for his wife after the attack. Instead, he contacted various friends and family members with alarming messages, which ultimately led them to alert the police. By the time authorities arrived, Naso had succumbed to her injuries. Detective Chief Inspector Debbie Duncan of Police Scotland described the murder as a “heartbreaking and senseless crime,” expressing hope that the sentence would bring some measure of comfort to Naso’s grieving family. She stated, “We hope this sentence brings some form of comfort to the family of Naso, whose loss continues to be deeply felt. Our thoughts remain with her loved ones.”
Dr Emma Forbes, speaking after the verdict, underscored the gendered nature of domestic abuse and its devastating consequences. “We know that domestic abuse and related homicides are gendered crimes which largely affect women and their children. Scotland’s prosecutors will continue to do all that we can to hold perpetrators to account while supporting those affected by this insidious crime.”
Isaacs will not be automatically released after serving 21 years. Instead, he will be eligible for parole only when the board is satisfied that he no longer poses a risk to the public. The sentence reflects the seriousness of the crime and the ongoing commitment of Scottish authorities to tackle domestic abuse with the full weight of the law.
The murder of Keotshepile Naso Isaacs is a tragic reminder of the dangers posed by domestic violence and coercive control. Naso, remembered by friends and colleagues as a dedicated carer and support worker, leaves behind three young children and a community still grappling with the senseless loss. As Scotland continues to confront the realities of domestic abuse, the hope remains that justice, awareness, and support for victims will prevent such tragedies in the future.
