Family shooting suspect’s bail bid turned down

A BAIL application by multiple attempted murder suspect Michael Endjala was rejected in the Katutura Magistrate’s Court yesterday, drawing a mixed reaction from family members.

Magistrate Desmond Beukes found that granting the 28-year-old father of three bail would place the State’s case “at high risk”. Endjala is accused of shooting his wife Priscilla, two of their three children – 16-month-old Sissy and eight-year old Franco – and his sister-in-law, Dorothy Gatyehe, with a 9 mm Makarov pistol at their backyard flat in Windhoek’s Khomasdal suburb on October 20 last year.He was arrested later that same evening at the MediClinic Hospital, after apparently rushing there with his baby daughter, who was shot in the stomach.In mid-December, Endjala applied for bail, claiming that he wanted to go back to work in order to settle the medical bills incurred by his family as a result of the shooting.Endjala’s defence lawyer, Sisa Namandje, then had to try and prove two statements to the court – that his client would not interfere with State witnesses, and that he would not try to abscond from standing trial.In the end, the seriousness of the crimes, his close relation to his four alleged victims, and his actions prior to and after his arrest all counted against Endjala.The Magistrate found that Endjala had already interfered with a State witness, namely his wife, who before speaking to him after the shooting is said to have “wanted nothing to do with him”.While in prison, he managed to get in contact with her, evidence provided to the court indicated, and Priscilla Endjala had since been a staunch supporter of her husband’s attempt to gain conditional freedom.The fact that four of the State’s witnesses were immediately related to him, two being his children and a third his wife, further raised the risk of his interfering with their testimony, Magistrate Beukes found.The Magistrate also took note of Endjala’s sister-in-law’s testimony last week that she feared a repeat of Endjala’s alleged crimes should he be granted bail, adding that Endjala had not disputed claims of previous violence by him against his wife and son.”The court therefore rejects this bail application,” Beukes said, before ordering that Endjala be returned into custody.While Endjala’s wife and family left the court in sombre fashion, his in-laws appeared pleased by the outcome.”If he had been granted bail I would have rather quit my job to avoid him,” said Gatyehe, who was surrounded by relatives who have cut off communication with her sister.Endjala is accused of shooting his wife Priscilla, two of their three children – 16-month-old Sissy and eight-year old Franco – and his sister-in-law, Dorothy Gatyehe, with a 9 mm Makarov pistol at their backyard flat in Windhoek’s Khomasdal suburb on October 20 last year.He was arrested later that same evening at the MediClinic Hospital, after apparently rushing there with his baby daughter, who was shot in the stomach.In mid-December, Endjala applied for bail, claiming that he wanted to go back to work in order to settle the medical bills incurred by his family as a result of the shooting.Endjala’s defence lawyer, Sisa Namandje, then had to try and prove two statements to the court – that his client would not interfere with State witnesses, and that he would not try to abscond from standing trial.In the end, the seriousness of the crimes, his close relation to his four alleged victims, and his actions prior to and after his arrest all counted against Endjala.The Magistrate found that Endjala had already interfered with a State witness, namely his wife, who before speaking to him after the shooting is said to have “wanted nothing to do with him”.While in prison, he managed to get in contact with her, evidence provided to the court indicated, and Priscilla Endjala had since been a staunch supporter of her husband’s attempt to gain conditional freedom.The fact that four of the State’s witnesses were immediately related to him, two being his children and a third his wife, further raised the risk of his interfering with their testimony, Magistrate Beukes found.The Magistrate also took note of Endjala’s sister-in-law’s testimony last week that she feared a repeat of Endjala’s alleged crimes should he be granted bail, adding that Endjala had not disputed claims of previous violence by him against his wife and son.”The court therefore rejects this bail application,” Beukes said, before ordering that Endjala be returned into custody.While Endjala’s wife and family left the court in sombre fashion, his in-laws appeared pleased by the outcome.”If he had been granted bail I would have rather quit my job to avoid him,” said Gatyehe, who was surrounded by relatives who have cut off communication with her sister.