The bail hearing for six of the seven accused in the alleged murder of university student Matheus Sheehama has been postponed due to the prosecutor’s illness.
It will continue on 11, 13 and 14 February.
The hearing, which commenced on Wednesday in the Walvis Bay Magistrate’s Court and was scheduled to last three days, did not proceed on Thursday as state prosecutor Annakleta Kandjimi issued a sick note.
The six applying for bail are Mervin Wapota (20), Jessica Gaes (27), her brother Jimmy Gaeb (24), Romano Paulus (20), Enrico Gomachab (20), and Moses Kandume (18).
Gaes was in a relationship with Sheehama at the time of his death. His remains were found at Independence Beach after being missing for a week.
Gaes’ ex-boyfriend, Michael Awaseb (24), has opted not to apply for bail and asked for legal aid.
He was therefore not part of the proceedings.
Awaseb’s case was postponed to 24 February.
It is alleged that Sheehama was last seen at a braai with Gaes along with the six accused, where an argument is said to have broken out before he went missing.
Wapota during cross-examination, denied playing a role in Sheehama’s death, saying he witnessed a fight between Sheehama and Awaseb, but did not take part.
Wapota said he was friends with Gaeb and was visiting him at the time of the incident.
“I found the deceased sitting on the wall with Gaes, Gaeb, and George (formally known as Awaseb), and I went into Gaeb’s room to greet the people inside. I then went to a nearby tuck shop, and when I came back, I found Jessica standing between the deceased and George,” Wapota said.
He said Gaeb was being held by another friend and further testified that he alerted everyone in the room about the fight.
“I had no plans to kill anyone, and I did not take part in the fight. It was George and Gaes’ relationship and their issues. I only alerted people about the fight, and that is not a crime,” he said.
Magistrate Rosalia Andima conducted the proceedings.
Six of the accused are represented by advocates Slysken Makanda, Ray-wood Rukoro and Albert Titus.
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