A medical doctor accused of raping a patient in a Windhoek hospital in April 2021 will have to wait a few days longer to hear the verdict in his trial in the Windhoek Regional Court.
The judgement in the trial of Dr Dennis Noa (29) is not completed yet, magistrate Victor Nyazo said when Noa appeared in court before him on Wednesday.
Nyazo postponed the delivery of his judgement, which was scheduled to be handed down on Wednesday, to Monday next week, and extended Noa’s bail until then.
Noa is accused of raping an 18-year-old patient at Katutura Intermediate Hospital, where he was working as a medical intern, on 11 April 2021. He is denying guilt on the charge.
The state is alleging that the patient, who was being treated at the hospital’s head injury unit, was unconscious and incapacitated as a result of a severe head injury, and that Noa abused his position of power over the patient by raping him after he had taken the patient from his room in the hospital.
Noa denied guilt on charges of rape and attempted murder when his trial started in April this year.
Nyazo acquitted him on the count of attempted murder after the state closed its case in his trial.
During the hearing of closing arguments in the trial in November last year, state advocate Palmer Kumalo argued there is evidence showing that a sexual act had been committed with the patient, and that Noa is the only person who could have done that.
Kumalo argued that Noa should be found guilty.
Defence lawyer James Diedericks slammed the state’s case as “a fanciful, ridiculous story” and as “based on conjecture and suspicion”, and argued that the evidence before the court did not show that the patient had been sexually violated as alleged.
Diedericks asked the magistrate to acquit Noa.
Noa remains free on bail in an amount of N$10 000.
Stay informed with The Namibian – your source for credible journalism. Get in-depth reporting and opinions for
only N$85 a month. Invest in journalism, invest in democracy –
Subscribe Now!
