Iuze Mukube 

A highlight of this week’s cases in the Namibian courts:

Angula flops

Murder and robbery accused Joel Angula has been unsuccessful in his appeal against a lower court’s decision to deny him bail in the Windhoek High Court. Judges Philanda Christiaan and Naomi Shivute concurred that magistrate Helvi Shikalepo exercised her discretion correctly and committed no material misdirection in refusing him bail earlier this year. His appeal was dismissed, and the matter continues.

Tourist robbery

Three men accused of robbing two tourists at a hotel in Otjiwarongo appeared in the Otjiwarongo Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday.

The trio are Vevangaune Mungendje, Willem Boois and Martin Stephanus. It is alleged that the incident occurred when the tourists arrived at the hotel’s parking area, where a grey sedan allegedly parked next to their vehicle.

The suspects then allegedly forced their way into the tourists’ vehicle and grabbed bags containing money, cameras, chargers, passports and other items valued at more than N$97 000.

The three allegedly then sped off but were later intercepted by the police and arrested.

All the allegedly stolen items were recovered. The three were denied bail during their first appearance. The matter continues.

Rehoboth ex-girlfriend killer

Rehoboth resident Henry Murphy (46) was convicted this week for murdering his former intimate partner, Christina Beukes (36), and other offences in connection with her death on 3 March 2023.

He was convicted of housebreaking with intent to murder and murder, read with the Combating of Domestic Violence Act and defeating or obstructing the course of justice. The court found that Murphy strangled Beukes to death after she allegedly rejected his sexual advances.

Evidence included Murphy’s DNA found under Beukes’s fingernails and evidence that he attempted to conceal his traces at the scene.

He denied the charges and claimed that he had left the hotel without entering Beukes’ room or killing her. High Court Judge Dinah Usiku found the evidence against him overwhelming and convicted him as charged. The matter continues.

Legal woes

Windhoek High Court Deputy Judge President Hannelie Prinsloo on Wednesday postponed the matter involving murder accused Wentzel Maarsdorp to head for pre-trial proceedings on 21 October 2026, after raising concerns that the case had not moved forward in nine months due to his failure to secure legal representation.

The time will allow new legal counsel to officially come on board. Maarsdorp made a first appearance in the High Court earlier this year after his matter was moved from the lower court last year.

Maasdorp faces charges including murder, read with the Combating of Violence Act, two counts of robbery with aggravating circumstances, two charges of fraud, alternatively theft, and counts of defeating or obstructing the course of justice, housebreaking with intent to steal and theft, and assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm.

The charges are in connection with a fatal incident that took place at the flat of Namibia University of Science and Technology employee Delia Weimers-Maasdorp (40) in the Klein Windhoek area during the evening of 25 April 2024.