With this statement, double murder and robbery suspect Fritz Gaoseb yesterday indicated in the Okahandja Magistrate's Court how he viewed his prospects in the case in which he and a 19-year-old co-accused face charges of hacking to death a Russian farming couple with a panga at a smallholding near Okahandja some 10 days ago.

Gaoseb made the statement to Magistrate Jabulani Ncube after he had joined his co-accused in the case, Ruben Tjombe, in the dock where Tjombe had already made a first court appearance on Friday.

The two men face two charges of murder and a count of robbery with aggravating circumstances in connection with the killing and alleged robbing of Russian couple Andrei Pastouchkov (50) and Svetlana Lobanova (44) around May 10.

Pastouchkov and Lobanova were found dead at the plot, where they were farming with poultry, on Tuesday last week.

It is suspected that they had been hacked to death with a panga.

According to the Namibian Police, the couple had employed two workers at the plot.

The two employees were not at the smallholding when the couple's bodies were found.

It is alleged that Tjombe, who was arrested at Okahandja on Wednesday last week, and Gaoseb, who was arrested at Otjimbingwe on Thursday, were the people who had been working for the couple.

Both are claimed to have been found in possession of property that belonged to the murdered couple when they were arrested.

Gaoseb, who is turning 21 in December this year according to the date of his birth that he provided with an application for legal aid yesterday, was informed of his rights to legal representation and legal aid upon his first court appearance in the case.

After Public Prosecutor Frans Anderson had asked Magistrate Ncube to postpone the case to June 30 for further investigations to be done and for the two charged young men's applications for legal aid to be processed, the Magistrate enquired from each of them if they had objections to being kept in custody.

Tjombe did not, but Gaoseb said he had.

He asked to be given bail, and suggested that he could be given bail of up to N$3 000.

Trying to get more information from Gaoseb on the request to be given bail, Magistrate Ncube eventually asked him what his attitude was to the charges he is facing, and whether these are just a fabrication against him.

"I think I'm going to be guilty in this matter," Gaoseb answered.

The Magistrate declined his request to be released on bail.

He told Gaoseb and Tjombe that they are facing the unfortunate scenario where, if they were to be convicted on the serious charges against them, there was a high possibility that they could be imprisoned for a very long time - even for life.

In his opinion, he added, there is also a possibility that they would try to flee if they were to be released on bail.

Until their circumstances change, or they bring a formal bail application in court, they should remain in custody, Magistrate Ncube said.

Tjombe and Gaoseb have to appear in court again on June 30.

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