Suspect admits killing woman for N$100

AN elderly woman who was killed in her home at a farm in the Leonardville area 10 months ago was murdered for binoculars and N$100 in cash, one of her alleged killers has indicated in the Gobabis Magistrate’s Court.

This information came from Gobabis district farm resident Hendrik Swartz last Friday, when he admitted guilt on charges of murder and robbery with aggravating circumstances. Swartz (34) faces charges in connection with the murder of the 65-year-old Anna Reed between September 21 and 22 last year.He pleaded guilty when he and a co-accused made their latest appearance in the Gobabis Magistrate’s Court.Johannes Shuuveni on charges of murder and robbery with aggravating circumstances.They are accused of murdering Reed in her home at farm Arib about 40 kilometres north of Leonardville a day before what would have been her 66th birthday.They are further accused of having robbed Reed of binoculars and an unknown amount of money.Reed was found dead in her home, where she lived alone, on the morning of September 22 last year.It was reported at the time that two doors giving entrance to her house appeared to have been forced open.Reed appeared to have been beaten in the face and was suspected to have been strangled, it was also reported.With their latest appearance in court, Public Prosecutor Cornelius Kauami asked the two accused men to plead to the two charges.Swartz pleaded guilty on both counts, while Khuxab denied the charges.In a written plea explanation that their Legal Aid Directorate defence lawyer, Martha Nujoma, handed to the court, Swartz admitted that he had murdered Reed by strangling her to death.He however denied that he also had assaulted her in another manner.He also admitted that he had robbed Reed and that he subdued her by strangling her.He stole binoculars and a cashbox containing all of N$100 when he robbed her, Swartz further admitted.Following their plea the case was postponed to September 10 while a decision is awaited from the Prosecutor General, who has to decide on what charges the two accused men will be prosecuted and in which court they will be put on trial.The two men remain in Police custody.Swartz (34) faces charges in connection with the murder of the 65-year-old Anna Reed between September 21 and 22 last year.He pleaded guilty when he and a co-accused made their latest appearance in the Gobabis Magistrate’s Court.Johannes Shuuveni on charges of murder and robbery with aggravating circumstances.They are accused of murdering Reed in her home at farm Arib about 40 kilometres north of Leonardville a day before what would have been her 66th birthday.They are further accused of having robbed Reed of binoculars and an unknown amount of money.Reed was found dead in her home, where she lived alone, on the morning of September 22 last year.It was reported at the time that two doors giving entrance to her house appeared to have been forced open.Reed appeared to have been beaten in the face and was suspected to have been strangled, it was also reported.With their latest appearance in court, Public Prosecutor Cornelius Kauami asked the two accused men to plead to the two charges.Swartz pleaded guilty on both counts, while Khuxab denied the charges.In a written plea explanation that their Legal Aid Directorate defence lawyer, Martha Nujoma, handed to the court, Swartz admitted that he had murdered Reed by strangling her to death.He however denied that he also had assaulted her in another manner.He also admitted that he had robbed Reed and that he subdued her by strangling her.He stole binoculars and a cashbox containing all of N$100 when he robbed her, Swartz further admitted.Following their plea the case was postponed to September 10 while a decision is awaited from the Prosecutor General, who has to decide on what charges the two accused men will be prosecuted and in which court they will be put on trial.The two men remain in Police custody.