Court hears of impact of double murder

By: WERNER MENGES

SIX children will be growing up without the love, guidance and support of their mothers as a result of the double murder which shebeen and shop owner Salmon Nakale committed at Mariental three years ago. Testimony about the effects of the murders that Nakale (34) has been convicted of was heard by Judge Alfred Siboleka in the High Court in Windhoek on Friday.

Nakale’s girlfriend, Rebecca Katanga (23), was survived by two children, aged three and seven, when she was shot dead on May 9 2009, her stepfather, Sheyavali Haimbodi, told Judge Siboleka.

Nakale is the father of Katanga’s two children.

Katanga’s sister, Lusia Ndahambelela Erastus (30), who was also killed in the same incident, had four children, aged between two years and nine years at the time, Haimbodi testified.

The six children are now being cared for by him and his wife, who is the mother of the two murdered sisters, Haimbodi said.

The children are receiving a social grant of N$200 each per month, and the monthly salary of N$1 000 that he is earning as a fuel station attendant is his family’s only other income, Haimbodi said.

He told the judge that at his age – he is now 60 – he was supposed to retire, but because he has children to maintain he would have to keep on working now.

The family of Katanga and Erastus has until now still not accepted the fate that befell them, Haimbodi testified.

Nakale was found guilty on two counts of murder on August 24. Having pleaded not guilty to both charges, Nakale claimed during his trial that Katanga and Erastus had been shot by accident.

Judge Siboleka rejected his version of events, though, and found that he had an intention to kill the two sisters when he shot each of them with a 9 mm pistol.

The shooting took place at Katanga’s house, where she was running a shebeen.

Nakale also had his own shebeen and a small shop at Mariental, the court heard during the trial.

The court also heard that Nakale and Katanga’s relationship had been a stormy affair at times, and that Nakale had assaulted Katanga in the past and had threatened to kill her.

Three prosecution witnesses told the court that on the day of the shooting they had seen Nakale arriving at Katanga’s house and entering the house. A few minutes later they heard a gunshot going off, followed by the sound of bottles falling. After hearing Erastus pleading with Nakale, the witnesses heard another three shots, and then saw Nakale emerging from the house.

He was followed by a bleeding Erastus, who was crying out for help. She collapsed to the ground, while Nakale was seen tucking his pistol into his trousers before he got into his car and drove away.

Nakale is due to make a return to court tomorrow for the hearing of further evidence and arguments on his sentencing.

Defence lawyer Titus Ipumbu is representing Nakale. Deputy Prosecutor General Antonia Verhoef is prosecuting.

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