Jailed Schiefer to appeal

DOUBLE murder convict Romeo Schiefer plans to appeal against both his conviction and sentence for the murder of his parents in their house in Windhoek in January 2008.

DOUBLE murder convict Romeo Schiefer plans to appeal against both his conviction and sentence for the murder of his parents in their house in Windhoek in January 2008.

Minutes after he was sentenced to an effective 48 years’ imprisonment over the murder of his parents yesterday, Schiefer signed a document, which sets in motion the first step in the appeal process through which he will be trying to have his conviction overturned, or will attempt to at least get his prison term reduced.

Schiefer’s defence counsel, Winnie Christians, told The Namibian after the sentencing that he has instructions to appeal against both the sentence and conviction.

In his opinion, Schiefer’s effective prison term of 48 years is excessive, especially considering the fact that Schiefer was a relatively youthful 18 years old when the crimes he was convicted of were committed, Christians said.

“This case is arguably the most horrific case I have ever presided over,” Justice Naomi Shivute said during the sentencing.

Schiefer (24) “had committed the most serious of crimes,” Judge Shivute commented. “They were committed in a vicious manner.”

Schiefer was convicted of the murder of his parents, Frans and Francina Schiefer, who were killed in their house in Khomasdal in Windhoek during the evening of 18 January 2008. The two victims were both 50 years old.

Schiefer’s father was killed when he was shot in the head in the couple’s bedroom. Mrs Schiefer was stabbed repeatedly with a knife or knives, and was also shot nine times, it was found when an autopsy was done on her.

The number of injuries found on her body was clear evidence that she had been subjected to a merciless and prolonged attack, Judge Shivute said.

“It also shows that the accused wanted her to die at any cost,” she added.

Schiefer denied guilt on the charges throughout his trial.

He did not show any remorse, Judge Shivute said. The only mitigating factors in his favour were that he was a youthful and first-time offender, and that he spent a long time in custody before his trial was concluded, she said.

She added: “Although the accused person was a youthful offender at the time he committed these offences, I cannot ignore the fact that two innocent lives were taken away for no apparent reason. The terror and anguish they had endured at the hands of their own son is unimaginable.”

The only indication of a reason for the double murder was contained in a confession that Schiefer made to a senior police officer on 19 January 2008.

In that statement Schiefer claimed he was “triggered” and “decided that this is enough” when his mother swore at him and accused him of not wanting to learn, wasting her money and walking around doing nothing. He told the officer that he fetched a knife from a drawer and attacked his mother with it.

After that, he fetched his father’s pistol from a wardrobe in his bedroom and shot his father with the firearm, he said.

“I was crying and a teardrop fell on him and he turned,” Schiefer stated. “I first shot him through the pillow which I held in front of the pistol.”

After the shooting he found his mother in the kitchen.

Schiefer related: “I went out of the kitchen and my mother closed the door. I shot three or four shots through the door. I forced the door open and went in. I found that my mother was inside their sleeping room and the door was locked. I kicked the door open and went inside. I fired one shot in the air and my mother stormed at me and I shot at her several shots.”

He later again returned to the bedroom, Schiefer said: “While inside I started to stab my mother again but I cannot recall where I stabbed her.”

Mrs Schiefer was found with a broken knife blade stuck in her neck.

Schiefer appeared calm and collected after the sentencing. Several of his relatives who witnessed the sentencing from the public gallery in the courtroom were in tears after hearing that he had been sentenced to 28 years’ imprisonment on each of the murder charges.

Judge Shivute ordered that eight years of one prison term should be served concurrently with the other sentence.

Schiefer was further given a warning on a theft charge on which he was also found guilty. That charge involved the theft of his mother’s bank card and its PIN code, which were found in his possession on the day after the murders.

Deputy Prosecutor General Belinda Wantenaar conducted the prosecution.

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