The killing of a woman who was murdered by her husband at her home in Windhoek two years ago was “an act of unbridled and horrific violence”, a High Court judge said yesterday, before sentencing the killer to life imprisonment.
Helen Onesimus, who was stabbed to death by her husband, Marlo McNab, begged for her life to no avail after McNab launched an attack on her, acting judge Marilize du Plessis remarked during McNab’s sentencing in the High Court at Windhoek Correctional Facility.
Onesimus simply wanted to end a marriage in which she was clearly deeply unhappy, before McNab killed her, Du Plessis said.
McNab (39) pleaded guilty to a charge of housebreaking with intent to murder and murder in November last year.
He admitted that he killed Onesimus (43) at her home in the Rocky Crest area of Windhoek on 16 February 2024.
Onesimus was stabbed 27 times, it was recorded in a post-mortem examination report, Du Plessis noted during the sentencing.
Onesimus, who was employed by an insurance and investment company, obtained a degree in law shortly before she was murdered, the court was informed after McNab pleaded guilty.
In a plea statement given to the court, McNab admitted that he and Onesimus were married and that they became separated in July 2023.
McNab said he moved to Walvis Bay after their separation.
On 14 February 2024, while he was at Usakos, he received documents notifying him that Onesimus had instituted divorce proceedings against him, he said.
McNab added: “I was upset and travelled to Windhoek on 16 February 2024 to confront her.”
After arriving in Windhoek, he went to Onesimus’ flat in the Rocky Crest area, where he opened a garage door and entered the garage to wait for Onesimus inside.
When Onesimus arrived home at around 18h00 and entered the garage, she found him there, McNab related.
“An argument ensued which led me to attack her with a knife in the garage,” he stated.
McNab admitted that he stabbed Onesimus “multiple times with a knife”.
He also stated that he tried to end his own life after stabbing Onesimus. McNab said: “I passed out and later opened my eyes in hospital.”
A witness who was a neighbour of Onesimus told the court that McNab visited him at about 15h30 on the day of the incident, before McNab went to Onesimus’ residence, where he entered through the garage door, Du Plessis recounted during the sentencing.
The neighbour also told the court that he heard Onesimus screaming “please stop” at about 18h00, and that he heard what he described as “screams of terror” after that.
Three bloodstained knives and a pair of scissors were found at the scene where Onesimus was killed in the garage.
Du Plessis said: “It is clear that the injuries suffered by [Onesimus] speak of a frenzy of violence.
Whether the accused was a peaceful man before and after this incident does not detract from the fact that he stabbed his wife 27 times on the day of the incident and that he did so despite her cries for him to stop.”
The killing of Onesimus was “an act of unbridled and horrific violence”, she remarked.
Du Plessis also said: “The epidemic proportions of gender-based violence in our country cannot be ignored by this court.
Severe sentences have become the norm, but despite the courts’ unwavering efforts to stem the flow of violence against women through the imposition of deterrent sentences, there seems to be no respite to the ongoing slaughter.”
McNab asked for forgiveness from Onesimus’ family when he testified in mitigation of sentence, Du Plessis noted. She said she accepted that he expressed genuine remorse for what he had done.
She also said the fact that Onesimus’ adolescent son was present in her house when she was attacked and that he is now left without the love and care of his mother was taken into account as an aggravating factor.
The interests of the community and the nature of the offence that McNab committed outweigh his personal circumstances, Du Plessis said.
McNab was represented by defence lawyer Rennie Strauss.
Deputy prosecutor general Maria Shilongo represented the state.
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