An Omaheke region resident accused of kidnapping, raping and murdering a woman nearly five years ago was found guilty on six criminal charges in the Windhoek High Court yesterday.
Judge Naomi Shivute convicted Abel Mokalabatho (29) on a charge of murder, three counts of rape, a charge of kidnapping and a count of attempting to defeat or obstruct the course of justice, after finding that versions of events that he gave to police officers and two magistrates after his arrest in August 2020 were the truth.
The judge also found that evidence given by state witnesses during Mokalabatho’s trial was more credible than the version he gave to the court during his trial.
He denied guilt on the murder, rape and kidnapping charges, but pleaded guilty to the count of defeating or obstructing the course of justice when his trial began in June 2023.
Mokalabatho was accused of kidnapping, raping and murdering a 27-year-old woman, Anna Geinamses, at Drimiopsis in the Gobabis district on 1 to 2 August 2020.
The state alleged that he raped Geinamses at a shebeen at Drimiopsis during the evening of 1 August 2020, kidnapped her from that scene, took her to his bedroom, again raped her twice, and killed her the next morning by stabbing her in the neck and fastening a piece of wire around her neck.
In a plea explanation at the start of his trial, Mokalabatho said he and Geinamses were starting a relationship before her death.
He said she went to his bedroom voluntarily, and claimed Geinamses stabbed herself in the neck with a knife during a quarrel that was sparked when he received a phone call from an ex-girlfriend.
Mokalabatho also said he panicked after Geinamses had died, and he then decided to place her body in a drain on the premises where he stayed.
He further admitted that he told police officers investigating the disappearance of Geinamses that she had gone to a farm with an unknown man.
Geinamses was missing for about two and a half weeks before her body was found in the drain where Mokalabatho had dumped it.
After being arrested, Mokalabatho made a confession to a magistrate at Gobabis, admitted guilt during an appearance in the Gobabis Magistrate’s Court and pointed out scenes connected to his alleged crimes to the police, Shivute recounted in her judgement.
In his confession, Mokalabatho said he had intercourse with Geinamses after he had followed her into a toilet, where he twisted her arm and forced himself on her.
After that, he forced Geinamses to go with him to his room, where he again had intercourse with her, he told the magistrate who recorded his confession.
When Geinamses threatened to report the events to her mother the next morning, Mokalabatho first stabbed her with a knife and then fetched a piece of wire, which he fastened around her neck, he told the magistrate.
He also recalled that he dumped Geinamses’ body in a drain at his mother’s house.
During his trial, Mokalabatho claimed that Geinamses killed herself by stabbing herself. He also said he tied a piece of wire around her neck in an attempt to make her death look like suicide, before he placed her body in a drain.
His testimony was not credible, though, Shivute found.
Mokalabatho, who is being held in custody, has to return to court on 4 July for a presentence hearing.
He is being represented by defence lawyer Mbanga Siyomunji.
State advocate Ethel Ndlovu is prosecuting.
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