Three men accused of robbing and killing a Windhoek resident in his flat about two years ago denied guilt on four charges when their trial commenced in the High Court yesterday.
The three accused – Nicodemus Hango (23), Abast Muya (28) and Erastus Gabriel (41) – pleaded not guilty to a charge of murder, two counts of robbery with aggravating circumstances, and a charge of defeating or obstructing the course of justice at the start of their trial before judge Dinnah Usiku.
Hango, Muya and Gabriel are accused of robbing and murdering Stanley Cloete (36), who was an employee of the Namibia University of Science and Technology, in his flat in the Dorado Valley area of Windhoek on 2 March 2024.
The state is alleging that Cloete’s car and items including an Apple smartphone, an Apple laptop computer, a flat-screen television, six wristwatches, shoes and clothing were stolen from Cloete when he was robbed after he had been assaulted, tied up and stabbed with a knife.
In a plea statement given to the court, Hango denies that he killed or intended to kill Cloete, or at any stage foresaw his death or that he could be seriously injured.
Hango, who is represented by defence lawyer Frieda Nekola, admits he was present at Cloete’s flat when he was robbed, after he had been recruited by Muya to help him carry out a robbery.
Hango also admits in his plea statement that he held Cloete while Muya was tying Cloete’s hands and feet together with wires and while Muya tied a cloth around his mouth.
The state is alleging that Cloete died as a result of suffocation.
Hango is further admitting that he carried a television from Cloete’s flat to his car on an instruction from Muya, and that he took three T-shirts, two pairs of shoes and three bottles of perfume in a suitcase from the flat.
In his plea statement, he also says after he and Muya removed items from Cloete’s flat, Muya returned to the flat alone, having said that he had forgotten to take a speaker from the flat.
Hango claims Muya remained inside the flat for about seven minutes before they left the scene.
A violent assault on Cloete, a re-tying of his hands and feet together and the shoving of a pillow case or cloth into Cloete’s mouth occurred when he was not present, Hango says as well.
Further admissions made by Hango are that his DNA was found on a cigarette butt in the sitting room of the flat and on short trousers in Cloete’s bedroom, and also at the scene because he had been in close contact with Cloete.
He held Cloete by his neck when he restrained him as he was being tied up, Hango admits.
Gabriel and Muya did not give any plea explanation to the court, and did not make any admissions through their defence lawyers either.
Gabriel, who is represented by legal aid lawyer Eva Maria Nangolo, was granted bail in an amount of N$5 000 in May this year.
Muya, who is represented by defence lawyer Susan Nyatondo, and Hango are being held in custody.
The trial is continuing in the High Court at Windhoek Correctional Facility.
Deputy prosecutor general Karin Esterhuizen is representing the state.
