Policeman in court on rape and murder spree charges

A SUSPENDED Namibian Police Constable accused of going on a rampage of housebreaking, rape, murder and arson at Sesfontein in the Kunene Region in early 2005 made a first appearance in preparation for his trial in the High Court in Windhoek yesterday.

Constable Ernst Elton Mukuwe (30) is set to go on trial in the High Court on six charges: two counts of murder and charges of rape, housebreaking with intent to steal and malicious damage to property, theft, and malicious damage to property, in connection with events that took place at Sesfontein south of Opuwo on February 20 and 21 2005. In the meantime, he remains free on bail of N$3 000.Appearing before Judge Louis Muller for a first pre-trial hearing in the High Court yesterday, Mukuwe told the Judge that he wants to get a lawyer by himself – as opposed to applying for State-funded legal aid – to represent him during his trial.He added that he is waiting for a payout to be made to him by his employer, which should enable him to pay for his legal representation.Mukuwe is scheduled to make a second pre-trial appearance in the High Court on November 6, when the court should be informed whether he has managed to secure legal representation or if he would have to apply for legal aid after all.Mukuwe was arrested on February 21 2005.That was after two women – the one a girl in her late teens, the other 75 years old – had been found strangled at Sesfontein, where the Police station had also been broken into during the previous night.In the indictment that Mukuwe is set to face at his trial, it is alleged that Mukuwe broke into the Sesfontein Police Station late during the night of Sunday February 20 2005 or early the next morning, by breaking a glass window.Inside the Police station he allegedly damaged a steel cabinet containing firearms when he tried – but failed – to open it.Mukuwe then left the Police station and went to the house of Sandy Nuas, one of the persons listed as a prosecution witness in his planned trial, it is claimed in the indictment.At the time of the incident, which was said to have left the small and normally quiet community of Sesfontein reeling with shock, it was reported that Mukuwe had allegedly gone to that house to look for his girlfriend.He and his girlfriend were allegedly having trouble with their relationship, it was also reported.At Nuas’s house, it is charged in the indictment, Mukuwe allegedly raped a young woman, Hulda Sonja Mibagu Tjitana, and killed her by strangling her.It is further charged that he also murdered a second person, Albertine Tjitana (75), again by strangling her.It was reported at the time that Albertine Tjitana was the grandmother of the younger victim, who was reported to have been 19 years old.After the killings Mukuwe allegedly stole a suitcase, containing clothing and toiletries, that belonged to Nuas, it is charged.He went on set fire to the suitcase and its contents, it is charged.Mukuwe was kept in custody until he was granted bail of N$3 000 on June 18 this year, before his case was transferred to the High Court for trial.At his request one of his bail conditions was changed by Judge Muller yesterday, to require him to report to the Police at Otavi only once a week, instead of twice, from now on.In the meantime, he remains free on bail of N$3 000.Appearing before Judge Louis Muller for a first pre-trial hearing in the High Court yesterday, Mukuwe told the Judge that he wants to get a lawyer by himself – as opposed to applying for State-funded legal aid – to represent him during his trial.He added that he is waiting for a payout to be made to him by his employer, which should enable him to pay for his legal representation.Mukuwe is scheduled to make a second pre-trial appearance in the High Court on November 6, when the court should be informed whether he has managed to secure legal representation or if he would have to apply for legal aid after all.Mukuwe was arrested on February 21 2005.That was after two women – the one a girl in her late teens, the other 75 years old – had been found strangled at Sesfontein, where the Police station had also been broken into during the previous night.In the indictment that Mukuwe is set to face at his trial, it is alleged that Mukuwe broke into the Sesfontein Police Station late during the night of Sunday February 20 2005 or early the next morning, by breaking a glass window.Inside the Police station he allegedly damaged a steel cabinet containing firearms when he tried – but failed – to open it.Mukuwe then left the Police station and went to the house of Sandy Nuas, one of the persons listed as a prosecution witness in his planned trial, it is claimed in the indictment.At the time of the incident, which was said to have left the small and normally quiet community of Sesfontein reeling with shock, it was reported that Mukuwe had allegedly gone to that house to look for his girlfriend.He and his girlfriend were allegedly having trouble with their relationship, it was also reported.At Nuas’s house, it is charged in the indictment, Mukuwe allegedly raped a young woman, Hulda Sonja Mibagu Tjitana, and killed her by strangling her.It is further charged that he also murdered a second person, Albertine Tjitana (75), again by strangling her.It was reported at the time that Albertine Tjitana was the grandmother of the younger victim, who was reported to have been 19 years old.After the killings Mukuwe allegedly stole a suitcase, containing clothing and toiletries, that belonged to Nuas, it is charged.He went on set fire to the suitcase and its contents, it is charged.Mukuwe was kept in custody until he was granted bail of N$3 000 on June 18 this year, before his case was transferred to the High Court for trial.At his request one of his bail conditions was changed by Judge Muller yesterday, to require him to report to the Police at Otavi only once a week, instead of twice, from now on.