Katima stabber gets 25-year prison term

THE stabbing that ended the life of Katima Mulilo resident Dorothy Nanvula Nyambe in April 2005 left her lover and killer, Victor Mundia Musweu (26), with a 25-year jail term yesterday.

“The offence that the accused committed is brutal and cowardly,” Judge Louis Muller told Musweu during sentencing in the High Court in Windhoek. “Another young person lost her life because of (Musweu’s) uncontrolled jealousy.”Namibia’s courts have often expressed themselves against “the easy resort to dangerous weapons to resolve household disputes”, Judge Muller said.Despite long terms of imprisonment, crimes of this kind continued to be committed, the Judge remarked.As an instrument of society, the court had the responsibility of imposing a balanced and visible punishment for these types of offences.Musweu’s trial started on Tuesday last week, when Musweu offered a guilty plea on the murder charge on which he stood in the dock before Judge Muller.He admitted that he killed Nyambe by stabbing her several times with a knife “in a fit of anger and jealousy after I found the deceased half naked with another man” at Katima Mulilo on April 13 2005.Because Musweu however did not admit that he had intended to kill Nyambe, a trial ensued with testimony from seven prosecution witnesses and Musweu himself.Judge Muller delivered his judgement on Wednesday, when he found Musweu guilty of murder, with a direct intention to kill.While he found that it was probable that Nyambe had a relationship with another man as was claimed by Musweu, Judge Muller also found that several contradictions marked Musweu’s version of the events on the evening that Nyambe was fatally stabbed.The way in which Nyambe was stabbed – as many as 11 times over her chest, arms and lower back – with a large knife showed that Musweu intended to kill her, Judge Muller found.Nyambe, who worked as a shop assistant at Katima Mulilo, had one child, a boy, State advocate Andrew Muvirimi told Judge Muller before sentencing.Musweu, who was also employed at a shop at Katima Mulilo, has two children, aged six and five, defence lawyer Unanisa Hengari told the Judge on Wednesday.Hengari also told the Judge that Musweu deeply regretted the killing and wanted to ask Nyambe’s family’s forgiveness for the sorrow he has caused them.Musweu has turned his life to God, is doing Bible studies in prison, and wants to realise his ambition of qualifying as a mechanic, Hengari said.He will in any event “for the rest of his life carry in his heart the knowledge that he terminated the love of his life”, Hengari also said.”Another young person lost her life because of (Musweu’s) uncontrolled jealousy.”Namibia’s courts have often expressed themselves against “the easy resort to dangerous weapons to resolve household disputes”, Judge Muller said.Despite long terms of imprisonment, crimes of this kind continued to be committed, the Judge remarked.As an instrument of society, the court had the responsibility of imposing a balanced and visible punishment for these types of offences.Musweu’s trial started on Tuesday last week, when Musweu offered a guilty plea on the murder charge on which he stood in the dock before Judge Muller.He admitted that he killed Nyambe by stabbing her several times with a knife “in a fit of anger and jealousy after I found the deceased half naked with another man” at Katima Mulilo on April 13 2005.Because Musweu however did not admit that he had intended to kill Nyambe, a trial ensued with testimony from seven prosecution witnesses and Musweu himself.Judge Muller delivered his judgement on Wednesday, when he found Musweu guilty of murder, with a direct intention to kill.While he found that it was probable that Nyambe had a relationship with another man as was claimed by Musweu, Judge Muller also found that several contradictions marked Musweu’s version of the events on the evening that Nyambe was fatally stabbed.The way in which Nyambe was stabbed – as many as 11 times over her chest, arms and lower back – with a large knife showed that Musweu intended to kill her, Judge Muller found.Nyambe, who worked as a shop assistant at Katima Mulilo, had one child, a boy, State advocate Andrew Muvirimi told Judge Muller before sentencing.Musweu, who was also employed at a shop at Katima Mulilo, has two children, aged six and five, defence lawyer Unanisa Hengari told the Judge on Wednesday.Hengari also told the Judge that Musweu deeply regretted the killing and wanted to ask Nyambe’s family’s forgiveness for the sorrow he has caused them.Musweu has turned his life to God, is doing Bible studies in prison, and wants to realise his ambition of qualifying as a mechanic, Hengari said.He will in any event “for the rest of his life carry in his heart the knowledge that he terminated the love of his life”, Hengari also said.