Mental report awaited of mother who drowned children

THE trial of triple murder suspect Saima Hangula, who has admitted that she drowned her three children in northern Namibia in May last year, has been rescheduled to continue in the High Court in Windhoek at the end of November.

Hangula (30), who pleaded guilty to three counts of murder when her trial started before Judge Louis Muller in the High Court at Oshakati in mid-April this year, made a first appearance in the High Court in Windhoek yesterday. Her trial had been postponed in early May so that Hangula could be psychologically evaluated and a report on her state of mind could be submitted to the court before she is sentenced.Yesterday, Deputy Prosecutor-General Heidi Jacobs told Judge Muller that such a report has not been completed yet, and that she has been informed that Hangula is set only now to undergo a period of observation for the purpose of being psychologically evaluated.As a result of this, Hangula’s trial was postponed to November 26 and 27.The trial started on April 17 when Hangula pleaded guilty to three charges of murder.She admitted that on May 10 last year at Eexwa/Eehonge village in the Eenhana district, she murdered her three children by downing them in a well.The children were a nine-year-old girl, Emilia Popyeigenawa Isayi, a four-year-old boy, Paulus Shonghela, and a four-month-old boy, Frans Kashivulu Shonghela.Hangula informed Judge Muller in a written plea explanation that the father of the children had deserted her.She stated that she was also in ill health.The children’s father did not take care of them, and they were suffering as a result, she stated.”All these circumstances made me depressed and made me decide to take my life and that of my kids.I decided this because I felt I could not leave my kids behind as they are already suffering,” she stated.She described the killings in short terms: “I first walked the kids into the water, where they drowned and I attempted to kill myself but the water was too shallow.”Hangula also stated: “I am very remorseful for what I did and am begging for mercy from the court, society and almighty God.I know I have sinned by taking three innocent lives but at the time I thought it was better for all of us to go.”A pre-sentence report on Hangula’s personal and family circumstances that was compiled by a social worker has already been submitted to Judge Muller.In that report, social worker Josephine Nghiishililwa stated that Hangula had confessed to the murders.She also said it was unfortunate that she did not die as well, Nghiishililwa reported.Hangula told her that she carried out the drownings because of anger and frustration, according to Nghiishililwa.She was angered when the children’s father, Namibia Defence Force member Johannes Shonghela, told her that he wanted to break off his relationship with her, Nghiishililwa related in the report.Shonghela also accused her of infidelity and evicted her from the house where they had been living together as a couple, the social worker reported.In Nghiishililwa’s opinion, Hangula seemed to lack the knowledge how to share her personal problems with others in order to enable her to resolve conflicts.Hangula felt guilty and showed remorse over her deeds, Nghiishililwa reported.Hangula remains in custody until the trial resumes.She is being represented by defence lawyer Frieda Kishi.Her trial had been postponed in early May so that Hangula could be psychologically evaluated and a report on her state of mind could be submitted to the court before she is sentenced.Yesterday, Deputy Prosecutor-General Heidi Jacobs told Judge Muller that such a report has not been completed yet, and that she has been informed that Hangula is set only now to undergo a period of observation for the purpose of being psychologically evaluated.As a result of this, Hangula’s trial was postponed to November 26 and 27.The trial started on April 17 when Hangula pleaded guilty to three charges of murder.She admitted that on May 10 last year at Eexwa/Eehonge village in the Eenhana district, she murdered her three children by downing them in a well.The children were a nine-year-old girl, Emilia Popyeigenawa Isayi, a four-year-old boy, Paulus Shonghela, and a four-month-old boy, Frans Kashivulu Shonghela.Hangula informed Judge Muller in a written plea explanation that the father of the children had deserted her.She stated that she was also in ill health.The children’s father did not take care of them, and they were suffering as a result, she stated.”All these circumstances made me depressed and made me decide to take my life and that of my kids.I decided this because I felt I could not leave my kids behind as they are already suffering,” she stated.She described the killings in short terms: “I first walked the kids into the water, where they drowned and I attempted to kill myself but the water was too shallow.”Hangula also stated: “I am very remorseful for what I did and am begging for mercy from the court, society and almighty God.I know I have sinned by taking three innocent lives but at the time I thought it was better for all of us to go.”A pre-sentence report on Hangula’s personal and family circumstances that was compiled by a social worker has already been submitted to Judge Muller.In that report, social worker Josephine Nghiishililwa stated that Hangula had confessed to the murders.She also said it was unfortunate that she did not die as well, Nghiishililwa reported.Hangula told her that she carried out the drownings because of anger and frustration, according to Nghiishililwa.She was angered when the children’s father, Namibia Defence Force member Johannes Shonghela, told her that he wanted to break off his relationship with her, Nghiishililwa related in the report.Shonghela also accused her of infidelity and evicted her from the house where they had been living together as a couple, the social worker reported.In Nghiishililwa’s opinion, Hangula seemed to lack the knowledge how to share her personal problems with others in order to enable her to resolve conflicts.Hangula felt guilty and showed remorse over her deeds, Nghiishililwa reported.Hangula remains in custody until the trial resumes.She is being represented by defence lawyer Frieda Kishi.