Court hands down 20-year sentence to Omusati knife killer

A man who murdered his girlfriend in a knife attack in the Omusati region was sentenced to 30 years’ imprisonment at the end of his trial in the Oshakati High Court this week
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Titus Ipuleni Mundonga (40) was determined to end the life of his girlfriend, Saima Peelenga (30), when he attacked her with a knife, judge Duard Kesslau remarked before he sentenced Mundonga on Tuesday.

Kesslau recounted that Mundonga left Peelenga’s room after stabbing her with a knife, and then returned to the room to continue his deadly attack on her.

“His determination to end her life can also be seen from the fact that he killed [Peelenga] in her own homestead with multiple family members within earshot,” Kesslau added.

He noted as well that one of Peelenga’s three children was present in the room during the attack.

The boy was found covered in his mother’s blood after she had been killed.

“The trauma to the surviving family members is something they will have to deal with for the rest of their lives,” Kesslau said.

Peelenga was murdered at Oshitoo, a village in the Omusati region, during the evening of 14 July 2020.

She died after she had been stabbed 20 times, according to evidence heard during Mundonga’s trial.

Kesslau remarked that the attack must have come as a surprise for Peelenga, as she trusted Mundonga and allowed him into her room with her child present.

From words overheard by witnesses during the attack, it appears that Mundonga felt disrespected by Peelenga and that jealousy was a motive for his actions, the judge added.

He also recounted that Mundonga left the murder scene in a nonchalant manner and was found asleep at his father’s house the next morning.
“In my opinion, this is another indication of his total lack of remorse. Further, due to the absence of empathy by [Mundonga], he appears to be a danger to society,” Kesslau said.

Mundonga has been held in custody since his arrest.

Defence lawyer Mukaya Nyambe represented him during the trial.

Deputy prosecutor general Ruben Shileka represented the state.