A couple accused of murdering and robbing an engineer in his home in Windhoek in May 2022 are without legal representation after their defence lawyers withdrew from their case this week.
Defence lawyers Susan Nyatondo and Janita von Wielligh, who were representing Muningandu Kaapama and Jorene Bezuidenhout, respectively, informed deputy judge president Hosea Angula in the Windhoek High Court on Thursday that they have decided to withdraw from the couple’s case.
The two lawyers both cited receiving conflicting instructions during consultations with their clients as the reason behind their decision to withdraw from the matter.
Nyatondo and Von Wielligh have been representing Kaapama and Bezuidenhout for more than two years on instructions from the Directorate of Legal Aid.
Kaapama (30) and Bezuidenhout (29) are charged with counts of murder, robbery with aggravating circumstances and defeating or obstructing the course of justice.
The state is alleging that they robbed and killed an engineer, 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.
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 had left the house after a fight between Silombela and Kaapama.
Their application to be granted bail was unsuccessful, and they have remained in custody since their arrest.
Following the withdrawal of their lawyers, Kaapama and Bezuidenhout told the judge they intend to approach the Directorate of Legal Aid to ask that they be given legal representation again.
Angula postponed their case to 22 January.
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