NEWS - NAMIBIA
| 2013-07-30Bar killer jailed for 18 years
Werner Menges
A WINDHOEK resident who stabbed someone to death in a bar because he was displeased with an answer his victim had given him has been sentenced to an effective 18 years’ imprisonment.
The reason given by Gerson Gariseb for the fatal stabbing that he carried out at a bar in Windhoek’s Okahandja Park area on 17 December 2005 was “flimsy and implausible”, Magistrate Johannes Shuuveni commented when he sentenced Gariseb, a 37-year-old father of two minor children, in the Windhoek Regional Court on Friday last week. “The circumstances under which the deceased met his death can only be described as most shocking and barbaric,” Magistrate Shuuveni said.
There was no good reason why Gariseb’s victim, Simon Shipena, was murdered, he said. Gariseb pleaded guilty to a charge of murder last week. He admitted that he killed Shipena by stabbing him twice in the neck with a knife. His explanation for the stabbing was that he and a friend had been drinking at a bar, and that he later realised that his money was missing.
Gariseb stated that he asked other people in the bar for his money. When Shipena answered him by saying that he (Shipena) had only N$10 on him, he was not happy with the answer, Gariseb said. He recounted that he then took out a knife and stabbed Shipena twice in the neck.
The murder confirms a total disregard of the right to life, which is protected in Namibia’s Constitution, the magistrate told Gariseb. He added that every law-abiding citizen of Namibia is shocked and concerned about the escalating rate of crimes such as murder, rape and robbery being committed in the country. Magistrate Shuuveni sentenced Gariseb to a 20-year prison term, of which two years were suspended for a period of five years on condition that Gariseb is not convicted of murder committed during the period of suspension. Gariseb was represented by defence lawyer Tabitha Mbome. Arrie Husselmann prosecuted.
The reason given by Gerson Gariseb for the fatal stabbing that he carried out at a bar in Windhoek’s Okahandja Park area on 17 December 2005 was “flimsy and implausible”, Magistrate Johannes Shuuveni commented when he sentenced Gariseb, a 37-year-old father of two minor children, in the Windhoek Regional Court on Friday last week. “The circumstances under which the deceased met his death can only be described as most shocking and barbaric,” Magistrate Shuuveni said.
There was no good reason why Gariseb’s victim, Simon Shipena, was murdered, he said. Gariseb pleaded guilty to a charge of murder last week. He admitted that he killed Shipena by stabbing him twice in the neck with a knife. His explanation for the stabbing was that he and a friend had been drinking at a bar, and that he later realised that his money was missing.
Gariseb stated that he asked other people in the bar for his money. When Shipena answered him by saying that he (Shipena) had only N$10 on him, he was not happy with the answer, Gariseb said. He recounted that he then took out a knife and stabbed Shipena twice in the neck.
The murder confirms a total disregard of the right to life, which is protected in Namibia’s Constitution, the magistrate told Gariseb. He added that every law-abiding citizen of Namibia is shocked and concerned about the escalating rate of crimes such as murder, rape and robbery being committed in the country. Magistrate Shuuveni sentenced Gariseb to a 20-year prison term, of which two years were suspended for a period of five years on condition that Gariseb is not convicted of murder committed during the period of suspension. Gariseb was represented by defence lawyer Tabitha Mbome. Arrie Husselmann prosecuted.
