A Kavango East region resident who is accused of murdering his mother and trying to kill his father nearly two years ago intends to admit guilt on two charges he is facing in the Windhoek High Court.
During an appearance by murder accused Madjuta Kuwema (36) in the High Court at Windhoek Correctional Facility on Tuesday, deputy prosecutor general Antonia Verhoef informed judge Philanda Christiaan that Kuwema’s lawyer has indicated that Kuwema intends to plead guilty to charges of murder and attempted murder.
Kuwema is also charged with a count of assault by threat, which the state intends to withdraw, Verhoef said.
The state is alleging that Kuwema murdered his mother, Kwerupu Kathunda (68), at Shamungwa, a village in the Mukwe area of the Kavango East region, on 23 November 2024.
The state is also alleging that Kuwema tried to murder his father, Mudumbi Kuwema, during the same incident, and threatened to kill his brother when he tried to intervene during the attack on their parents.
In the indictment recording the charges against Kuwema, the state is alleging that he travelled a distance of about 18 kilometres from the village where he lived to Shamungwa, the home village of his parents and other family members, on 23 November 2024.
Kuwema is alleged to have had a plan to kill members of his family, or at least his mother, whom he suspected of being the cause of problems he was experiencing in his life.
After arriving at his parents’ village, Kuwema attacked his mother, assaulting her by beating her with sticks.
Her skull was fractured during the attack on her. She died at the scene of the assault due to head injuries.
Kuwema is alleged to have also assaulted his father by hitting him multiple times with sticks. His father managed to escape from the attack on him.
After the attack, Kuwema went to Mukwe Police Station, where he reported that he had killed his mother, the state is alleging as well.
Kuwema, who is being held in custody, has to return to court on Monday next week for a date for his trial to be allocated.
He is being represented by defence lawyer Mbanga Siyomunji.
