On the cusp of adulthood, Ruben Tjombe is at the youthful age of 19 facing two charges of murder as well as a count of robbery with aggravating circumstances in connection with the killing of a Russian farming couple at Okahandja around May 10.

Clean-cut, casually but neatly dressed, and barely looking his age, Tjombe appeared to be resigned and lost in thought as he made a first court appearance on the charges against him on Friday.

Tjombe was arrested at Nau-Aib at Okahandja on Wednesday last week.

The day before, Russian poultry farmers Andrei Pastouchkov (50) and Svetlana Lobanova (44) were found murdered at their smallholding some 10 kilometres north of Okahandja.

It is suspected that the couple were hacked to death with a panga or pangas.

Tjombe is alleged to have been employed by the couple.

His court appearance before Magistrate Jabulani Ncube was a brief event, with Public Prosecutor Frans Anderson telling the Magistrate that it was Tjombe's first appearance on two counts of murder and one count of robbery with aggravating circumstances, whereafter the Magistrate informed Tjombe of his rights to legal representation and legal aid.

Having heard the explanation of these rights, Tjombe told Magistrate Ncube that he wanted to apply for legal aid.

Tjombe is scheduled to make a second appearance in court today, when a co-accused is set to be added to his case.

The second suspect, aged 21, was arrested at Otjimbingwe on Thursday.

He is also alleged to have been employed by the murdered couple.

An informed source indicated on Friday that according to the latest information available to the Police, Pastouchkov and Lobanova were probably killed on the Saturday afternoon three days before they were found dead.

A quarrel over money and pay given to the couple's two employees at their smallholding is thought to have been the spark that prompted the killings.

Both Tjombe and the second suspect were set to remain in Police custody over the weekend.

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