A Windhoek resident received an effective prison term of two years on Friday, after admitting he caused a car collision that claimed the life of a senior police officer nearly 19 years ago.
Christiaan Brandt (42) was charged with four counts, including a count of murder, before he admitted guilt to charges of culpable homicide and attempting to defeat or obstruct the course of justice in the Windhoek Regional Court 10 days ago.
The charges originated from a car crash that claimed the life of a senior member of the Namibian Police, chief inspector Manfred Sass (48), in May 2006.
Brandt’s trial ended on Friday with magistrate Linus Samunzala sentencing him to three years’ imprisonment, of which one year is suspended for a period of five years, on the charge of culpable homicide.
On the count of attempting to defeat or obstruct the course of justice, Samunzala sentenced Brand to a jail term of one year, which is to be served concurrently with the sentence on the charge of culpable homicide.
Brandt admitted that he negligently caused the death of Sass as a result of a car crash in Windhoek on 30 April 2006.
He also admitted that he left the accident scene after the crash, and through that attempted to defeat or obstruct the course of justice. After being injured in the collision, Sass died in a hospital in Windhoek on 6 May 2006.
Sass was the acting head of the Namibian Police’s Serious Crime Unit at the time of his death. He had been a police officer for 29 years, The Namibian reported at the time.
In a plea statement signed by Brandt, he stated that the events that led to Sass’ death “were as a result of a motor vehicle accident wherein I failed to observe the reasonable care a normal driver in the same circumstances would have exhibited”.
Brandt also stated: “I honestly confess that I have learnt my lesson and do not intend to repeat the same act in future.”
Brandt was also charged with counts of driving under the influence of intoxicating liquor and failing to ascertain damages after a motor vehicle accident.
However, the state did not proceed with those charges after he admitted guilt to culpable homicide – which was an alternative charge under the count of murder that he faced – and attempting to defeat or obstruct the course of justice.
Samunzala remarked during the sentencing on Friday that culpable homicide is a serious offence.
He also said in his view, Brandt’s personal circumstances are outweighed by the seriousness of the offence, and that a fine would not be an appropriate sentence, as it may trivialise the offence.
Together with the effective prison term of two years to which he sentenced Brandt, Samunzala also suspended Brandt’s driving licence for six months. The suspension will take effect once he has completed serving his sentence.
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