Shebeen shooting suspect wants bail

THE Katutura State Hospital nurse accused of murdering three people in a shebeen shooting a month ago pleaded with a Windhoek Magistrate on Friday to release him on bail.

Jekonia Dimbulukweni Hamukoto (36) faces three counts of murder and three charges of attempted murder in connection with the shooting at Konjeni Bottle Store, a shebeen at the Katutura Single Quarters, early on the afternoon of February 2. The Namibian Police’s Public Relations and Liaison Office reported after the incident that Hamukoto was at the shebeen when he apparently noticed that his cellphone had disappeared.He confronted the other patrons about this, but when no one came to his assistance or produced the phone, he took out a 9 mm pistol, fired a warning shot through the roof, and then started shooting randomly at people inside the bar, the Police claimed.Three people were killed.They were Jonas Erastus (22), Festus Aron (25) and Boni Shuudeni (25).Three other men were seriously injured.When the Police arrested Hamukoto at the scene, the cellphone that had sparked the incident was found in his possession.Hamukoto told Magistrate Tuyenikelao Haikango on Friday that the phone had indeed been found with him, but that this did not mean that he had it with him all along.He said that after he had bought a drink at the bar counter, he discovered that his phone was no longer on the table where he had left it.He asked people in the vicinity if they had taken it, drew no positive responses from them, and then took out his gun to fire a warning shot, he said.More shots went off, he said, and then a man approached him, apologising all the way, put down the missing cellphone on the table in front of Hamukoto, and tried to flee to safety.This man was then also felled by a shot.He thus did not have his cellphone with him all along as the Police had reported and the media repeated, Hamukoto told the court.”What I can say is it was really not my intention.Really,” he said when led through his testimony by his lawyer, Boris Isaacks.Under cross-examination from Public Prosecutor OJ Lino he added that he felt “very bad” about the situation, and that he did not know what to tell his children.”I am a human being,” Hamukoto said.”I don’t feel happy to those who lost their life in this incident.They are human beings too.”Hamukoto added that he intends to plead not guilty when he goes on trial.When questioned by Lino, he however confirmed that he was the person who fired the shots in the shebeen on February 2, and that the bullets that he fired off were the ones that struck the people who were killed and injured.He had no intention to murder anyone, however, Hamukoto added.Hamukoto told the Magistrate that he had four children who were living with his 75-year-old mother, who as in ill health and dependent on his support.If he was kept in custody, they were the people who would suffer, he said.He was not a criminal, Hamukoto told the Magistrate.If he was released on bail, he would not abscond, but stand trial as required.The hearing of the bail application is scheduled to continue on Wednesday.The Namibian Police’s Public Relations and Liaison Office reported after the incident that Hamukoto was at the shebeen when he apparently noticed that his cellphone had disappeared.He confronted the other patrons about this, but when no one came to his assistance or produced the phone, he took out a 9 mm pistol, fired a warning shot through the roof, and then started shooting randomly at people inside the bar, the Police claimed.Three people were killed.They were Jonas Erastus (22), Festus Aron (25) and Boni Shuudeni (25).Three other men were seriously injured.When the Police arrested Hamukoto at the scene, the cellphone that had sparked the incident was found in his possession.Hamukoto told Magistrate Tuyenikelao Haikango on Friday that the phone had indeed been found with him, but that this did not mean that he had it with him all along.He said that after he had bought a drink at the bar counter, he discovered that his phone was no longer on the table where he had left it.He asked people in the vicinity if they had taken it, drew no positive responses from them, and then took out his gun to fire a warning shot, he said.More shots went off, he said, and then a man approached him, apologising all the way, put down the missing cellphone on the table in front of Hamukoto, and tried to flee to safety.This man was then also felled by a shot.He thus did not have his cellphone with him all along as the Police had reported and the media repeated, Hamukoto told the court.”What I can say is it was really not my intention.Really,” he said when led through his testimony by his lawyer, Boris Isaacks.Under cross-examination from Public Prosecutor OJ Lino he added that he felt “very bad” about the situation, and that he did not know what to tell his children.”I am a human being,” Hamukoto said.”I don’t feel happy to those who lost their life in this incident.They are human beings too.”Hamukoto added that he intends to plead not guilty when he goes on trial.When questioned by Lino, he however confirmed that he was the person who fired the shots in the shebeen on February 2, and that the bullets that he fired off were the ones that struck the people who were killed and injured.He had no intention to murder anyone, however, Hamukoto added.Hamukoto told the Magistrate that he had four children who were living with his 75-year-old mother, who as in ill health and dependent on his support.If he was kept in custody, they were the people who would suffer, he said.He was not a criminal, Hamukoto told the Magistrate.If he was released on bail, he would not abscond, but stand trial as required.The hearing of the bail application is scheduled to continue on Wednesday.