Sports chief’s domestic violence trials deferred

WIFE-BATTERING charges pending against sports administrator Eliphas ‘Aupapa’ Shipanga remain unresolved after two cases in which Shipanga faces allegations of assaulting his wife had to be postponed once again last week.

Shipanga, a former senior soccer administrator who is currently the Secretary General of the Namibia National Olympic Committee, had been set to go on trial in the Windhoek Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday on a charge of assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm. Another case, in which he is to be prosecuted on a charge of assault, had been scheduled to go on trial in the Windhoek Magistrate’s Court in Katutura the previous day.None of the matters went on trial, though.Both Magistrates pronounced themselves unable to sit on the trials.The one Magistrate previously dealt with the case of assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm as a prosecutor, and the other said that she had personal knowledge of the common assault charge against Shipanga.Shipanga’s trial on the charge of aggravated assault – related to claims by his then wife, Mamsy Shipanga, that Shipanga had assaulted her in their Hochland Park home in Late September 2003 – is now scheduled to start before another Magistrate on December 14.Shipanga has to return to court today for the fixing of a trial date for the second case.In that matter, his ex-wife claims that he assaulted her in July last year – basically by pushing her out the way – at the maintenance office of the Katutura courthouse, where she is also pursuing a case again him over his alleged failure to pay maintenance for the couple’s three teenage children.Shipanga remains free on bail.Another case, in which he is to be prosecuted on a charge of assault, had been scheduled to go on trial in the Windhoek Magistrate’s Court in Katutura the previous day.None of the matters went on trial, though.Both Magistrates pronounced themselves unable to sit on the trials.The one Magistrate previously dealt with the case of assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm as a prosecutor, and the other said that she had personal knowledge of the common assault charge against Shipanga.Shipanga’s trial on the charge of aggravated assault – related to claims by his then wife, Mamsy Shipanga, that Shipanga had assaulted her in their Hochland Park home in Late September 2003 – is now scheduled to start before another Magistrate on December 14.Shipanga has to return to court today for the fixing of a trial date for the second case.In that matter, his ex-wife claims that he assaulted her in July last year – basically by pushing her out the way – at the maintenance office of the Katutura courthouse, where she is also pursuing a case again him over his alleged failure to pay maintenance for the couple’s three teenage children.Shipanga remains free on bail.