Extra charge for rearrested Hindjou

MURDER and robbery suspect Smallboy Hindjou was back in the dock in the Windhoek Regional Court on Friday – 11 days after being mistakenly released on bail, and four days after he was rearrested for allegedly again carrying out a robbery at knifepoint in Windhoek.

Hindjou’s return appearance before Magistrate Christie Mostert was in the case in which he is facing charges of murder and robbery with aggravating circumstances in connection with the fatal stabbing of a radio disc jockey, Paul Figaji (35), in the capital on December 22 2004. Hindjou (21) pleaded not guilty to both charges when his trial started on September 3.The Magistrate ordered that Hindjou had to stay in Police custody when he postponed the trial to September 20 after the testimony of the first prosecution witness had been heard – but then Hindjou’s place in the dock stayed empty on the day the trial was supposed to continue.Hindjou was not at court because he had been mistakenly released on September 17 on bail of N$200 in another case in which he is facing charges of assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm and attempted theft, the Magistrate was told after he had summoned the Station Commander of the Windhoek Police Station to court to explain how it Hindjou could be released despite a court order that he had to remain in custody.Hindjou was back in the care of the Namibian Police four days after he had failed to appear in court for the continuation of his trial, though.According to the Police, he was arrested on a charge of robbery on Monday last week after he allegedly held a 32-year-old woman at knifepoint in Khomasdal and robbed her of a cellphone valued at about N$1 500.Hindjou is also accused of having used a knife – but that time with deadly consequences – and robbing someone of a cellphone in the incident in which Figaji lost his life.Figaji, who was a DJ at a Windhoek-based radio station, Radio Wave, died from a stab wound to his neck after he was attacked close to the Wika Service Station in Windhoek’s Mandume Ndemufayo Avenue in the early morning hours of December 22 2004.He was stabbed and allegedly robbed of his cellphone and N$70 while he and a friend were on their way home after a night out.Hindjou was arrested later that day in connection with the incident.He was kept in custody until Magistrate Peter Kavaongelwa granted him bail of N$400 on April 18 2004.Magistrate Mostert withdrew the bail after he was informed at the start of Hindjou’s trial that State witnesses had reported that Hindjou had been making threats against them.Hindjou’s trial is now scheduled to continue on October 24.With his return to the Regional Court on Friday, Magistrate Mostert again directed that he should remain in custody until the trial continues.Hindjou also appeared in the Windhoek Magistrate’s Court in Katutura on Thursday in connection with the alleged robbery that he is accused of having carried out on Monday.He and a co-accused, Erastus Jonas (24), were charged over that incident.Magistrate Helvi Shilemba postponed their case to November 15 and also ordered that they should remain in custody in the meantime.Hindjou (21) pleaded not guilty to both charges when his trial started on September 3.The Magistrate ordered that Hindjou had to stay in Police custody when he postponed the trial to September 20 after the testimony of the first prosecution witness had been heard – but then Hindjou’s place in the dock stayed empty on the day the trial was supposed to continue.Hindjou was not at court because he had been mistakenly released on September 17 on bail of N$200 in another case in which he is facing charges of assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm and attempted theft, the Magistrate was told after he had summoned the Station Commander of the Windhoek Police Station to court to explain how it Hindjou could be released despite a court order that he had to remain in custody.Hindjou was back in the care of the Namibian Police four days after he had failed to appear in court for the continuation of his trial, though.According to the Police, he was arrested on a charge of robbery on Monday last week after he allegedly held a 32-year-old woman at knifepoint in Khomasdal and robbed her of a cellphone valued at about N$1 500.Hindjou is also accused of having used a knife – but that time with deadly consequences – and robbing someone of a cellphone in the incident in which Figaji lost his life.Figaji, who was a DJ at a Windhoek-based radio station, Radio Wave, died from a stab wound to his neck after he was attacked close to the Wika Service Station in Windhoek’s Mandume Ndemufayo Avenue in the early morning hours of December 22 2004.He was stabbed and allegedly robbed of his cellphone and N$70 while he and a friend were on their way home after a night out.Hindjou was arrested later that day in connection with the incident.He was kept in custody until Magistrate Peter Kavaongelwa granted him bail of N$400 on April 18 2004.Magistrate Mostert withdrew the bail after he was informed at the start of Hindjou’s trial that State witnesses had reported that Hindjou had been making threats against them.Hindjou’s trial is now scheduled to continue on October 24.With his return to the Regional Court on Friday, Magistrate Mostert again directed that he should remain in custody until the trial continues.Hindjou also appeared in the Windhoek Magistrate’s Court in Katutura on Thursday in connection with the alleged robbery that he is accused of having carried out on Monday.He and a co-accused, Erastus Jonas (24), were charged over that incident.Magistrate Helvi Shilemba postponed their case to November 15 and also ordered that they should remain in custody in the meantime.