The trial of three men accused of murdering and robbing a resident of Windhoek at the city’s Avis Dam in July 2020, is due to start in the High Court tomorrow.
The men’s trial was supposed to begin in the Windhoek High Court on Monday this week, but did not commence because one of the three accused, Antonio Cheme, failed to appear in court.
Cheme (29) and two other accused, Iileka Kefas (37) and Johannes Shetunyenga (36), are due to stand trial on seven charges in connection with two armed robberies that took place at Avis Dam in Windhoek during July 2020.
During the first robbery, on 10 July 2020, a woman visiting the dam was robbed after she had been threatened with a screwdriver. A cellphone, a wristwatch and a set of earphones were stolen from the woman during the robbery, the state is alleging.
The second robbery happened on 14 July 2020, when a frequent visitor to the dam, Daniele Ferrari (52), was attacked with a knife and panga. Ferrari was fatally injured in the attack.
A cellphone, wallet, wristwatch, belt and two sets of keys were stolen from Ferrari during the robbery.
Cheme’s defence lawyer, Tuna Nhinda, informed judge Naomi Shivute yesterday that Cheme was booked off due to illness on Monday.
With defence lawyer Enos Mwakondange, who is representing Shetunyenga, also booked off due to illness yesterday, Shivute postponed the start of the trial to tomorrow.
The three accused are charged with counts of murder and robbery with aggravating circumstances in connection with the attack on Ferrari.
Two other visitors to the dam were also attacked on the same day.
The state has charged Kefas, Shetunyenga and Cheme with counts of attempted murder and assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm in connection with those two attacks.
The three accused were arrested in November 2020.
The state is alleging that the accused defeated or obstructed the course of justice during the period between the robbery in which Ferrari was killed and 24 November 2020, by getting rid of the panga and knife or knives used in the fatal attack and throwing away an identity card, driving licence, bank card and medical aid card that belonged to Ferrari.
Fearing that the police were tracing the cellphone stolen from Ferrari, they also destroyed or threw away the phone, the state is alleging.
Cheme was granted bail in an amount of N$5 000 in July 2021.
According to evidence heard during his bail hearing in the Windhoek Magistrate’s Court, it is alleged that Kefas sold the cellphone stolen from Ferrari to Cheme, and that the phone was later destroyed.
Kefas and Shetunyenga were granted bail in an amount of N$2 000 each in August 2022.
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