A Windhoek resident accused of murdering his former girlfriend in a knife attack about two years ago will have to apply for state-funded legal aid again, after his defence lawyer withdrew from his case yesterday.
With the trial of murder accused Tjizake Murangi (25) scheduled to start in the Windhoek High Court yesterday, defence lawyer Milton Engelbrecht informed judge Claudia Claasen he was withdrawing from the matter after receiving conflicting instructions from his client.
Engelbrecht said he had a consultation with Murangi on Saturday, and Murangi then told him he no longer felt comfortable with Engelbrecht representing him.
Murangi told the judge he plans to reapply for legal aid after Engelbrecht’s withdrawal.
Murangi is due to stand trial on nine charges, including a count of housebreaking with intent to murder and murder, and a count of assault, with both those charges read with the provisions of the Combating of Domestic Violence Act.
He is also facing a charge of fraud, alternatively theft, two charges of theft, read with the provisions of the Stock Theft Act, two counts of forgery and two counts of uttering a forged document.
The state is alleging that Murangi murdered his former girlfriend, Frieda Amadhila (29), by stabbing her at least 15 times with a knife in her flat in Windhoek during the night of 7 to 8 April 2024.
It is alleged that Murangi attacked Amadhila with a knife after he had broken into her flat.
Murangi is also alleged to have stabbed himself in the throat during that incident.
Amadhila, who was employed at a bank in Windhoek, died before reaching a hospital to which Murangi transported her after the stabbing.
Murangi was working as a gym instructor before the killing of Amadhila.
The state is also alleging that Murangi assaulted Amadhila at her flat on 24 February 2024 by hitting or slapping her and pushing her against a wall. She allegedly terminated their relationship after that incident.
In respect of the fraud, theft, forgery and uttering charges against Murangi, the state is alleging that he fraudulently sold a piece of communal land in the Otjombinde area of the Omaheke region to Amadhila and her sister for N$70 000 in January 2024.
The land that was sold to Amadhila and her sister did not belong to Murangi, who pretended that he had bought the land earlier, the state is alleging.
It is further alleged that Murangi stole four head of cattle that belonged to Amadhila or her estate and her sister during March and April 2024 and in October 2024, and sold the cattle for a total amount of N$25 000, which he pocketed.
During a bail hearing in the Windhoek Magistrate’s Court in December 2024, Murangi said he did not stab Amadhila and denied that he was responsible for her death. He also claimed she had been the aggressor during an altercation between him and her.
Murangi testified that the wounds that Amadhila sustained were from a scuffle between him and her over a knife with which she had stabbed him first.
Murangi’s application to be granted bail was dismissed in January last year. An appeal against that decision was dismissed in the Windhoek High Court in April last year.
Murangi has to appear in the High Court again on Thursday.
