A Couple accused of murdering and robbing an engineer in his home in Windhoek in May 2022 have denied guilt on three charges at the start of their trial in the Windhoek High Court.
Muningandu Kaapama (30) and Jorene Bezuidenhout (29) denied guilt on charges of murder, robbery with aggravating circumstances and defeating or obstructing the course of justice with the start of their trial before judge Philanda Christiaan on Monday.
Defence lawyer Mbanga Siyomunji, who is representing the couple, informed the judge they will not offer any plea explanation to the court, apart from admitting that on 23 May 2022 they were in the company of Benjamin Silombela after meeting him in the Soweto area of Katutura in Windhoek, and that he later dropped them off at a service station in the Hakahana area.
“It’s not disputed that these people were together,” Siyomunji said.
The state is alleging that Kaapama and Bezuidenhout robbed and killed Silombela (41) in his house in the Eros Park area of Windhoek during the night of 23 to 24 May 2022.
Silombela, who was an engineer employed by the Namibia Power Corporation (NamPower), was found dead in his home during the evening of 24 May 2022.
He had been tied up and was allegedly strangled.
Kaapama and Bezuidenhout are accused of robbing Silombela after tying his hands and feet, gagging him and strangling him.
Silombela’s Mercedes-Benz car, a safe, a television, a cellphone, three bank cards and clothing were allegedly stolen from his house when he was robbed.
Kaapama and Bezuidenhout were arrested three days after the incident.
They both admitted during a bail hearing in the Windhoek Magistrate’s Court in November 2022 that they had been at Silombela’s house during the evening in question, but denied that they killed him.
They also claimed they had left Silombela’s house after a fight between him and Kaapama, and that Silombela was alive when they left the house.
A state witness, Hambeleleni Nyeemwatya, told the court yesterday that Silombela was a good friend of hers.
Nyeemwatya said she was at her home at Okahandja in the morning of 24 May 2022 when she noticed Silombela’s car making a U-turn outside and stopping on the opposite side of the street.
Nyeemwatya said she called out Silombela’s first name, and saw the driver of the car reacting. With the driver looking around, she saw the driver was not Silombela, she said.
She added that she recognised Kaapama as having been the driver of the car.
The trial is continuing.
State advocate Anna Amukugo is prosecuting.
Kaapama and Bezuidenhout have remained in custody since their arrest, after their application to be granted bail was turned down in April 2023.
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