Swakopmund beach murder suspects plead not guilty

THE three men charged with the fatal shooting of a Swakopmund jeweller on a beach at the resort town last year pleaded not guilty to charges of murder, robbery and theft out of a motor vehicle yesterday.

Naftalie Kondja (26), who is accused of having fired the shot that killed jeweller Alexandra Mooren on August 13 last year, looked surly as he appeared with his hands cuffed in the dock of the Swakopmund Magistrate’s Court yesterday. With Kondja, also known as Katjiru Kandonganero, in the dock before Magistrate Gibson Imbili were his co-accused, Matti Kamati (35) and Temus Natangwe Shiwolo (32).The three were arrested on the same day that the 44-year-old Mooren was shot dead while walking along the beach to the jewellery shop where she was working.Mooren was a master goldsmith from Germany who had lived at Swakopmund for two years before her death.All three suspects indicated to Magistrate Imbili yesterday that they were willing to plead to the charges without any of them having a legal representative present.Each of them pleaded not guilty to all three charges – a count of murder, a charge of robbery with aggravating circumstances, in which it is alleged that they used a .22 revolver to rob Mooren’s handbag, and a third charge of theft out of a motor vehicle.In the third charge, it is alleged that the three suspects stole a .22 revolver from a locked vehicle at Swakopmund on August 12 last year, a day before the murder.After Public Prosecutor Tania Tait had put the charges to the trio, Magistrate Imbili asked each of them if he wanted to explain his plea.Kondja told the court that he was pleading not guilty because when “the statement” was taken from him he had been threatened, and because “the firearm” was not even found with him.It is understood that he was referring to a self-incriminating statement that he had made to the Police, and to the weapon that had been used in the attack on Mooren.According to the Police, that weapon – in itself potentially devastating incriminating evidence – was found in Kondja’s possession.Kamati in turn told the Magistrate that he had no knowledge of the case.He said he was at home, sleeping, on the day in question when the Police came and told him that Kondja had informed them of his (Kamati’s) involvement in the matter.He had not left home that day, Kamati claimed.The Police have claimed that Kondja handed Mooren’s handbag to Kamati after Kondja had shot and robbed her.The handbag, containing a coffee flask, house keys and some cosmetics, was later found at a service station at Swakopmund.The Police have also claimed that, after the shooting and robbery, Shiwalo transported Kamati in a taxi that Shiwalo was driving.Shiwalo likewise denied this yesterday.He claimed he had also been innocently at home, washing his car, when the Police approached him and informed him of the allegations.Neither Kamati, nor Kondja had been in his taxi that day, Shiwalo claimed to the Magistrate.Tait asked for the case to be postponed again for further investigation.Magistrate Imbili granted a postponement to June 6.Kondja was remanded in custody, and Kamati’s and Shiwalo’s bail was extended.The Police are still looking for a fourth suspect, 32-year-old Titus Ndeshipanda Taapopi, in connection with the murder.A reward of N$6 000 is being offered for any information leading to his arrest.Anyone with information on his whereabouts can contact Detective Warrant Officer George Xoagub at (cell phone) 081 277 8185, or Chief Inspector Philander at 081 124 3174.With Kondja, also known as Katjiru Kandonganero, in the dock before Magistrate Gibson Imbili were his co-accused, Matti Kamati (35) and Temus Natangwe Shiwolo (32).The three were arrested on the same day that the 44-year-old Mooren was shot dead while walking along the beach to the jewellery shop where she was working.Mooren was a master goldsmith from Germany who had lived at Swakopmund for two years before her death.All three suspects indicated to Magistrate Imbili yesterday that they were willing to plead to the charges without any of them having a legal representative present.Each of them pleaded not guilty to all three charges – a count of murder, a charge of robbery with aggravating circumstances, in which it is alleged that they used a .22 revolver to rob Mooren’s handbag, and a third charge of theft out of a motor vehicle.In the third charge, it is alleged that the three suspects stole a .22 revolver from a locked vehicle at Swakopmund on August 12 last year, a day before the murder.After Public Prosecutor Tania Tait had put the charges to the trio, Magistrate Imbili asked each of them if he wanted to explain his plea.Kondja told the court that he was pleading not guilty because when “the statement” was taken from him he had been threatened, and because “the firearm” was not even found with him.It is understood that he was referring to a self-incriminating statement that he had made to the Police, and to the weapon that had been used in the attack on Mooren.According to the Police, that weapon – in itself potentially devastating incriminating evidence – was found in Kondja’s possession.Kamati in turn told the Magistrate that he had no knowledge of the case.He said he was at home, sleeping, on the day in question when the Police came and told him that Kondja had informed them of his (Kamati’s) involvement in the matter.He had not left home that day, Kamati claimed.The Police have claimed that Kondja handed Mooren’s handbag to Kamati after Kondja had shot and robbed her.The handbag, containing a coffee flask, house keys and some cosmetics, was later found at a service station at Swakopmund.The Police have also claimed that, after the shooting and robbery, Shiwalo transported Kamati in a taxi that Shiwalo was driving.Shiwalo likewise denied this yesterday.He claimed he had also been innocently at home, washing his car, when the Police approached him and informed him of the allegations.Neither Kamati, nor Kondja had been in his taxi that day, Shiwalo claimed to the Magistrate.Tait asked for the case to be postponed again for further investigation.Magistrate Imbili granted a postponement to June 6.Kondja was remanded in custody, and Kamati’s and Shiwalo’s bail was extended.The Police are still looking for a fourth suspect, 32-year-old Titus Ndeshipanda Taapopi, in connection with the murder.A reward of N$6 000 is being offered for any information leading to his arrest.Anyone with information on his whereabouts can contact Detective Warrant Officer George Xoagub at (cell phone) 081 277 8185, or Chief Inspector Philander at 081 124 3174.