Runaway driver caught

By: DENVER KISTING

THE driver of the vehicle which crashed into three shacks in Otjomuise last weekend, killing a six-year-old girl, was arrested last Monday. He made a first appearance in the Windhoek Magistrate’s Court in Katutura on Tuesday on seven criminal charges.

Lesley Roger de Koe (30), also a resident of this north-western Windhoek suburb, initially fled from the scene on foot.
He was charged with culpable homicide, driving under the influence of intoxicating liquor, failing to render assistance at the accident scene, failing to ascertain whether someone had sustained injuries during the accident, failure to report the accident, failure to ascertain whether the accident resulted in damages and driving without a driver’s license.
De Koe is suspected to have lost control over his pick-up in Kitchener Street at around 23h00 last Saturday, after which he crashed into three shacks. The vehicle allegedly landed on top of the bed of the girl, Elizabeth Ndapewa Nashuuta, instantly killing her.
Elizabeth’s mother, Elizabeth Ngwedha (31), last week said that by the time she got out of bed after hearing a crashing noise, the car was standing inside their shack.
She said: “We were [already] sleeping. [It was] maybe around 23h00. Later, I heard something and when I woke up, I saw the car standing at my kid’s bed.”
According to her, the driver and his two passengers got out of the car and ran away. “They were three people in the car.”
She said she then tried to convince bystanders, who came to see what had happened, that her daughter must still be in the shack. “I tried to tell them that my daughter was still in there, but they couldn’t find her.”
Ngwedha said it was only when the Police arrived on the scene and removed the car from the shack that the girl was found. She had already died.
Little Elizabeth was a pre-primary school pupil this year, her mother said.
Magistrate Conchita Olivier postponed De Koe’s case until October 15. She released him on N$5 000 bail.
Public Prosecutor Salomé Bampton represented the State during the proceedings.
Khomas Police Regional Crime Coordinator, Deputy Commissioner Sylvanus Nghishidimbwa, on Friday confirmed De Koe’s arrest.
Nghishidimbwa earlier said that the Police had launched a manhunt to capture De Koe.

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