Time For A Jury

ONCE again our justice system has failed us the people. It baffles me that by killing your wife you get slapped with a fine! Has human life become so cheap in Namibia? Shaduka was either guilty or not guilty and to me and many others he was guilty.

But as we all know the law places the burden of proving someone guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. After reading the article in your newspaper I’ve concluded that it wasn’t sloppy police work at all. The person in question is the judge.

In her verdict she took note of the following:

That the couple experienced maritial problems;

That Shaduka assaulted his wife on more then one occasion;

Drugs was also mentioned;

That he did not express remorse, and after being given the opportunity only spoke about how he was suffering, he did not even bother to offer any apology or show remorse about his actions and the devastating effect they had.

Not to mention that he tried to flush the bullets down the drain while at the hospital. 

I think his whole story reeked of guilt. I don’t care if he is a businessman and that he contributes to the local economy. Are you telling me that I can rob a bank, stash the money before being caught and the courts should then let me free knowing that I will then use the money to boost the economy?

Isn’t it about time that our Justice Minister or Parlimant start debating about introducing a jury system - which is a group of randomly chosen ordinary people of society to help judges make vital decisions after listening to court cases?

 

Tangeni ‘Barnes’ Ekandjo

Walvis Bay

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