Further mental checks for murder suspect

MURDER suspect Natangwe Ipinge Ngatjizeko, who is charged with killing his mother in a bloody knife attack in her home near the end of 2006, is set to undergo a second period of psychiatric observation before his trial will be continuing in the High Court in Windhoek.

Judge Nate Ndauendapo on Friday ordered that Ngatjizeko should again undergo a 30-day period of psychiatric observation to determine his mental condition at the time of his alleged crime and whether he can be held accountable for his alleged actions.
Ngatjizeko (30) is charged with murdering and robbing his mother, Phenny Ipinge (58), in her home in the Shandumbala area of Katutura in Windhoek on December 17 2006.
Ipinge died after she was stabbed 39 times with knives, according to an autopsy report that became part of the evidence in Ngatjizeko’s trial last week. Two knives were found at the scene where she was found lying covered with a blanket on her lounge floor, dead in a pool of blood.
Ngatjizeko pleaded not guilty to both charges at the start of his trial on June 3. In a plea explanation he claimed he was suffering from a mental defect at the time of the incident. This had been caused by years of substance abuse, Ngatjizeko claimed.
He stated that he believed he was psychotic at the time of the incident and was not able to properly appreciate the wrongfulness of his deeds at that stage.
Ngatjizeko admitted having seriously assaulted his mother and having poured boiling water over her, but claimed he did not have a clear recollection of the events and denied that he intentionally killed Ipinge.
He claimed he was not sure if his memories of the incident were figments of his imagination, nightmares or recurring dreams, or if they are in fact a true reflection of events.
Ngatjizeko went through a period of psychiatric observation last year.
However, the psychiatrist who compiled a report on his mental condition after that, Dr Reuben Japhet, has since left the country and the notes he made on his observation of Ngatjizeko could not be found up to now, Judge Ndauendapo was told before he was asked to again order that Ngatjizeko be observed for 30 days. Dr Japhet’s notes would have been needed for another psychiatrist to give evidence on his report and the findings he reached.
Ngatjizeko was found fit to stand trial, but in Dr Japhet’s opinion his ability to understand the wrongfulness of his alleged actions and to act in accordance with such an understanding was diminished at the time of the incident.
Ngatjizeko is now scheduled to return to court on July 12.
He is being represented by defence lawyer Jan Wessels. State advocate Constance Moyo is prosecuting.