B-1 Butcher: DNA evidence in spotlight

REPORTS that DNA analyses have virtually solved the investigation of the murders of two women whose dismembered remains were found in and around Windhoek between September 2005 and July last year were brushed off as premature by the Namibian Police yesterday.

A statement issued in the name of the Inspector General of the Namibian Police, Lieutenant General Sebastian Ndeitunga, stated that Police investigations into a number of murders, which include those of Juanita Mabula and Sanna Garoës, have not yet been concluded. The Namibian also learned yesterday that the Police have not ruled out the possibility that two people may have been involved in the killings.In a report published in the Republikein newspaper on Friday it was claimed that preliminary DNA tests conducted outside Namibia have shown that a former life sentence prisoner, Hans Husselmann, had “probably” been responsible for the killing of both Mabula and Garoës.The 21-year-old Mabula’s decapitated body was found lying next to the Western Bypass road near the Windhoek Turf Club and the Windhoek Country Club Resort on September 25 2005 – two days after Husselmann’s 39th birthday.On June 17 last year, the dissected torso of a woman was found in a rubbish bin next to the B1 road between Windhoek and Okahandja.This torso, as well as two human thighs found in another rubbish bin next to the B1 road between Windhoek and Rehoboth on June 20 and a human head, feet and lower legs that were found lying in the veld next to the B6 road between Windhoek and Hosea Kutako International Airport on July 11 last year, were later identified as the remains of Garoës (36).SUICIDE: IT’S BETWEEN GOD AND MYSELF Husselmann was found hanged on June 19 last year in the flat where he was living in Pavlov Street in Windhoek West.He had left behind a suicide note in which he informed his family that his decision to end his life was a matter between him and God alone.Husselmann had been released on parole from Windhoek Central Prison on February 6 2004, after he had served 14 years and eight months of a life term of imprisonment and 15-year jail term he received in June 1989 on two charges of murder.He died at the age of 40.In his statement, Ndeitunga neither confirmed nor denied the correctness of the claims that preliminary DNA evidence linked Husselmann to both the Garoës and Mabula killings.”However, the possibilities are quite many; and one cannot rule out any of them at this stage,” he stated.Ndeitunga also stated: “We know that everyone would like to see these cases solved soon.Therefore, we are doing our best to expedite the conclusion of the investigation thereof.”The Commanding Officer of the Police’s Policy and Planning Division, Deputy Commissioner Hophni Hamufungu, added on enquiry yesterday that according to Police officers involved in the investigations, DNA samples taken from Husselmann’s house seem to indicate that he had had contact with at least Garoës.MORE THAN ONE BUTCHER? Hamufungu said this however needs to be investigated further, for instance to rule out the possibility that someone else may have planted the possibly incriminating material in Husselmann’s home, and also to check into the possibility that, if Husselmann had been involved in the death of Garoës, he may not have been acting alone.”We are not saying he is the murderer, but we are also not saying he is not the murderer,” Hamufungu said.According to another source, DNA samples from material found in Husselmann’s flat and on a jacket of his have been found to match Garoës’s DNA.It is also claimed that DNA found on a letter that was sent to the Police in connection with Mabula’s killing matched Husselmann’s genetic profile.The murders for which Husselmann was sentenced in June 1989 were committed on May 31 1988, when Husselmann shot someone dead and robbed him next to the B1 road south of Rehoboth, and on June 30 1988, when Husselmann stabbed and beat a hotel gatekeeper to death at a hotel at Rehoboth.MODEL PRISONER Husselmann was a young man of 21 when those crimes were committed.His youthful age counted heavily in his favour in sparing him from the death penalty at the time.During the years that he spent in prison, Husselmann gained a reputation as a model prisoner who used his time behind bars to further his education and gain a variety of academic and technical qualifications.After his release from jail he got employment as an instructor in fitting and turning at the Windhoek Vocational Training Centre, where he was still employed at the time of his apparent suicide.At the time of his trial, reports from psychiatrists and a psychologist who had examined Husselmann were submitted to the court in which he was tried.A clinical psychologist stated in a report that Husselmann was of above average intelligence, but that he was also emotionally unstable and prone to over-reaction, over-impulsive behaviour and aggressiveness, as was evidenced by past incidents of sudden violent behaviour on his part.The psychiatrist also diagnosed signs of an anti-social tendency with Husselmann and stated that he tended to react excessively to provocation or strong emotion.The Namibian also learned yesterday that the Police have not ruled out the possibility that two people may have been involved in the killings.In a report published in the Republikein newspaper on Friday it was claimed that preliminary DNA tests conducted outside Namibia have shown that a former life sentence prisoner, Hans Husselmann, had “probably” been responsible for the killing of both Mabula and Garoës.The 21-year-old Mabula’s decapitated body was found lying next to the Western Bypass road near the Windhoek Turf Club and the Windhoek Country Club Resort on September 25 2005 – two days after Husselmann’s 39th birthday.On June 17 last year, the dissected torso of a woman was found in a rubbish bin next to the B1 road between Windhoek and Okahandja.This torso, as well as two human thighs found in another rubbish bin next to the B1 road between Windhoek and Rehoboth on June 20 and a human head, feet and lower legs that were found lying in the veld next to the B6 road between Windhoek and Hosea Kutako International Airport on July 11 last year, were later identified as the remains of Garoës (36). SUICIDE: IT’S BETWEEN GOD AND MYSELF Husselmann was found hanged on June 19 last year in the flat where he was living in Pavlov Street in Windhoek West.He had left behind a suicide note in which he informed his family that his decision to end his life was a matter between him and God alone.Husselmann had been released on parole from Windhoek Central Prison on February 6 2004, after he had served 14 years and eight months of a life term of imprisonment and 15-year jail term he received in June 1989 on two charges of murder.He died at the age of 40.In his statement, Ndeitunga neither confirmed nor denied the correctness of the claims that preliminary DNA evidence linked Husselmann to both the Garoës and Mabula killings.”However, the possibilities are quite many; and one cannot rule out any of them at this stage,” he stated.Ndeitunga also stated: “We know that everyone would like to see these cases solved soon.Therefore, we are doing our best to expedite the conclusion of the investigation thereof.” The Commanding Officer of the Police’s Policy and Planning Division, Deputy Commissioner Hophni Hamufungu, added on enquiry yesterday that according to Police officers involved in the investigations, DNA samples taken from Husselmann’s house seem to indicate that he had had contact with at least Garoës. MORE THAN ONE BUTCHER? Hamufungu said this however needs to be investigated further, for instance to rule out the possibility that someone else may have planted the possibly incriminating material in Husselmann’s home, and also to check into the possibility that, if Husselmann had been involved in the death of Garoës, he may not have been acting alone.”We are not saying he is the murderer, but we are also not saying he is not the murderer,” Hamufungu said.According to another source, DNA samples from material found in Husselmann’s flat and on a jacket of his have been found to match Garoës’s DNA.It is also claimed that DNA found on a letter that was sent to the Police in connection with Mabula’s killing matched Husselmann’s genetic profile.The murders for which Husselmann was sentenced in June 1989 were committed on May 31 1988, when Husselmann shot someone dead and robbed him next to the B1 road south of Rehoboth, and on June 30 1988, when Husselmann stabbed and beat a hotel gatekeeper to death at a hotel at Rehoboth.MODEL PRISONER Husselmann was a young man of 21 when those crimes were committed.His youthful age counted heavily in his favour in sparing him from the death penalty at the time.During the years that he spent in prison, Husselmann gained a reputation as a model prisoner who used his time behind bars to further his education and gain a variety of academic and technical qualifications.After his release from jail he got employment as an instructor in fitting and turning at the Windhoek Vocational Training Centre, where he was still employed at the time of his apparent suicide.At the time of his trial, reports from psychiatrists and a psychologist who had examined Husselmann were submitted to the court in which he was tried.A clinical psychologist stated in a report that Husselmann was of above average intelligence, but that he was also emotionally unstable and prone to over-reaction, over-impulsive behaviour and aggressiveness, as was evidenced by past incidents of sudden violent behaviour on his part.The psychiatrist also diagnosed signs of an anti-social tendency with Husselmann and stated that he tended to react excessively to provocation or strong emotion.

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