One of the defence layers representing three people accused of killing a nine-year-old girl in Windhoek near the start of 2020 has announced his withdrawal from the three accused persons’ case, which is pending in the Windhoek High Court.
Defence lawyer Jermaine Muchali has informed the court he is withdrawing from the matter because he is not available on the dates, starting from 1 August, when the trial of the three accused is scheduled to start.
Married couple Caroline Nkata (39) and Edward Nkata (40) and Rachel Kureva (40), who was represented by Muchali, made another pretrial appearance before acting judge Philanda Christiaan in the High Court at the Windhoek Correctional Facility on Tuesday.
After Kureva informed the judge she has engaged the services of another defence lawyer, Janita von Wielligh, the case was postponed to 25 July for Kureva’s legal representation to be confirmed.
The Nkata couple and Kureva – all of whom are Zimbabwean citizens – were charged with counts of murder and defeating or obstructing the course of justice after the partly burnt body of Kureva’s nine-year-old daughter, Natalie Chipomho, was discovered in a rubbish skip in the Rhino Park area of Windhoek on 25 January 2020.
Prosecutor general Martha Imalwa decided in January last year that the Nkatas should stand trial in the Windhoek High Court and that she would not continue with the prosecution of Kureva.
She changed her stance in January this year, though, after a police investigator recorded a statement made by a 14-year-old witness who allegedly implicated Kureva in connection with events around Natalie’s death.
Kureva, who was released from police custody after charges against her were dropped, was again arrested after the decision to recharge her was taken.
Kureva is charged with a count of murder, read with the provisions of the Combating of Domestic Violence Act, and counts of defeating or obstructing the course of justice and violating a dead human body.
The state is alleging that Natalie was murdered when she was fatally assaulted in Windhoek between 23 and 25 January 2020.
At that time, Natalie and her mother, who was employed as a nurse, were sharing a flat in the Rhino Park area with the Nkatas and their children.
The state is also alleging that after Natalie had been killed, the Nkatas removed her body from their flat, dumped it in a rubbish skip nearby and set it alight in an attempt to hide her identity and interfere with a police investigation into her death.
The couple allegedly tried to flee a day after the discovery of Natalie’s body, but were arrested at a police roadblock between Okahandja and Otjiwarongo.
The three accused are being held in custody while awaiting the start of their trial.
Stay informed with The Namibian – your source for credible journalism. Get in-depth reporting and opinions for
only N$85 a month. Invest in journalism, invest in democracy –
Subscribe Now!
