Presentence hearing in murder, stock theft trial in June

Four men convicted on charges connected to the theft of cattle and murder of a stock theft investigator in the Omaheke region in December 2012 are due to return to the Windhoek High Court for a presentence hearing in June.

The four men’s presentence hearing is scheduled to take place on 23 and 24 June, they were informed during a court appearance before acting judge Alfred Siboleka yesterday.

Siboleka found three of the four accused – Stockley Kauejao, Matheu Kakururume and Muvare Kaporo – guilty on counts of murder, stock theft and obstructing the course of justice 10 days ago.

A fourth accused, Afas Kamutjemo, was found guilty on charges of stock theft and defeating the course of justice.

Siboleka found that Kauejao orchestrated the theft of 15 head of cattle at a farm in the Gobabis district during December 2012, and was also the mastermind behind the murder of stock theft investigator Wilfred Kazeurua (55).

Kakururume and Kaporo killed Kazeurua on 28 December 2012, after the owner of the stolen cattle had asked him to investigate the theft of his livestock. Kazeurua’s body was burnt and buried after he had been killed. His body was found about 10 days after his death. The trial of the four accused started in September 2015, when the accused denied guilt on all charges.

In the judgement in which he convicted the four accused, Siboleka concluded that the evidence showed Kauejao had orchestrated the stock theft that set off the chain of events that led to the murder of Kazeurua, and that he was the mastermind behind the investigator’s killing.

Kakururume made a detailed confession to a magistrate at Gobabis after his arrest in January 2013, Siboleka noted in his judgement.

In his confession, Kakururume recounted that Kauejao offered Kaporo and himself N$8 000 to steal 15 heifers from the farm where he was employed.

Kakururume told the magistrate that he and Kaporo drove 15 head of cattle to the farm where Kauejao was farming.

Kamutjemo became involved in the theft of the cattle when he, according to a witness, drove a lorry belonging to Kauejao when it was used to transport the stolen livestock from Kauejao’s farm.

Kakururume also said in his confession that Kauejao told him to get rid of Kazeurua after Kazeurua had been asked to investigate the theft of the cattle.

According to Kakururume, he and Kaporo killed Kazeurua by strangling him.

All of the four accused are being held in custody.