A couple accused of murdering and robbing an engineer in his home in Windhoek two years ago, have made a first appearance in the High Court.
Muningandu Kaapama (29) and his fiancée, Jorene Bezuidenhout (28), appeared before deputy judge president Hosea Angula for a pretrial hearing on Thursday.
Their case was transferred from the Windhoek Magistrate’s Court to the High Court at the end of May.
Kaapama and Bezuidenhout are charged with counts of murder, robbery with aggravating circumstances and defeating or obstructing the course of justice.
The state is alleging that they murdered an engineer employed by NamPower, Benjamin Silombela (41), in his house in the Eros Park area of Windhoek during the night of 23 to 24 May 2022.
Silombela was found dead in his home during the evening of 24 May 2022.
He had been tied up and was allegedly strangled.
The state is alleging that Kaapama and Bezuidenhout had been with Silombela in his house during the night he was killed.
It is also alleged that they robbed Silombela after tying his hands and feet, gagging him and strangling him.
Silombela’s Mercedes-Benz motor vehicle was stolen during the incident and was found abandoned at Okahandja the next day, before his body was discovered in his house.
Silombela’s car, bank cards, a television set, a cellphone, a safe and clothing were stolen during the alleged robbery.
Kaapama and Bezuidenhout were arrested three days after the incident.
They both admitted during a bail hearing in the Windhoek Magistrate’s Court in November 2022 that they had been at Silombela’s house during the evening in question, but denied that they killed him.
They also claimed they left the house after a fight between Silombela and Kaapama.
Kaapama and Bezuidenhout, who have been held in custody since their arrest, have to attend a second pretrial hearing in the Windhoek High Court on 22 August.
Defence lawyers Susan Nyatondo and Janita von Wielligh are representing Kaapama and Bezuidenhout, respectively.
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