A Hardap region resident has admitted in the Windhoek High Court that he murdered his teenage girlfriend two years ago by strangling her with his hands.
Johannes Bock (21) pleaded guilty to a charge of murder, read with the provisions of the Combating of Domestic Violence Act, before judge Claudia Claasen on Tuesday.
Bock admitted that he killed his then girlfriend, Sara Jonker (17), at Gochas in the Hardap region during the night of 12 to 13 June 2023.
In a plea statement given to the court, Bock said he and Jonker were involved in an argument at his father’s house.
She grabbed him by his clothes during the argument and did not let go when he told her to, Bock said.
He added that he got angry and grabbed her by her neck with his hands.
“I wanted to hurt her,” Bock said.
“After a short while I let go of her. After I let go of her, she fell onto the ground and became unconscious.”
Bock continued that he felt Jonker’s neck to check if he could find a pulse, but there was none.
“Although I did not have the direct intention to kill Sara Jonker, I admit that I foresaw the possibility that she might die from suffocation as a result of me strangling her,” Bock stated.
“Despite me foreseeing this possibility, I continued strangling her.
“I admit that strangling her the way I did I caused her death.”
Bock also said he was not defending himself when he strangled Jonker, and he did not believe he was acting in self-defence at that stage.
He and Jonker were involved in “an on-and-off relationship” at the time of the incident, Bock recounted.
Jonker was killed about two weeks before what would have been her 18th birthday.
Claasen found Bock guilty of murder based on his plea.
Bock was free on bail before he gave his plea. His bail was cancelled after he pleaded guilty to the charge he faced.
He has to return to court on 13 July for a presentence hearing.
State advocate Sakaria Kuutondokwa is representing the prosecution.
Bock is being represented by legal aid lawyer Linus Samaria.
