A man charged with murdering his police officer girlfriend in Windhoek in October 2021 admitted guilt at the start of his trial in the Windhoek High Court yesterday.
Justus Mbirimujo (32) admitted in a written plea explanation given to judge Christie Liebenberg that he killed his girlfriend, Kauaa Karuuombe (29), on 21 October 2021 by strangling her in the house that they shared in the city’s Otjomuise area.
Mbirimujo said this happened after he and Karuuombe had been involved in a heated argument.
He said the argument took place when he and Karuuombe were on their way home, after he had fetched her at a place where she was socialising during the late night hours.
Mbirimujo continued that, after their arrival at home, “a brawl erupted”. During this fight he pressed Karuuombe down on a mattress and throttled her with his hands until she died, he said.
After seeing that Karuuombe had died, he slept, and the next morning he left the house with his and Karuuombe’s baby, Mbirimujo said.
He said he tried to end his own life by suicide after that, but did not succeed, and on the advice of an uncle of his decided to go to the police to report Karuuombe’s death.
In its indictment, the state says Mbirimujo had been married to another woman from March 2015 until they were divorced in July 2021. He and Karuuombe were involved in a romantic relationship and lived together on an on-and-off basis during the time he was married.
On 1 October 2021, Karuuombe got married to another man. The state is alleging that after she got married, Mbirimujo told people that her wedding was a problem to him and not easy for him to deal with.
Based on Mbirimujo’s plea, Liebenberg found him guilty on a charge of murder, read with the provisions of the Combating of Domestic Violence Act.
The judge is due to hear presentence arguments from deputy prosecutor general Antonia Verhoef and defence lawyer Enos Mwakondange today.
Mbirimujo has been held in custody since his arrest on 22 October 2021.
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