Suspects in comet-watcher murder case in High Court

THREE men accused of robbing and shooting dead a Windhoek resident who was on a comet-watch outing in the city’s Goreangab Dam area last year made a first pre-trial appearance in the High Court in Windhoek yesterday.

A year and a half after the crimes that they are charged with, murder and robbery suspects Max Kleopas (26), Festus Nepembe Kiimba (30) and Josef Taukondjo Shikongo (31) have now landed in the court where their trial is set to eventually take place. Two Okahandja resi­dents were initially charged with Kleopas, Kiimba and Shikongo for the murder of Windhoek car dealer Cornelius (‘Neels’) Swiegers.The charges against the two, who were alleged to have bought items stolen from Swiegers and three companions during the fatal robbery, were withdrawn when the Prosecutor General decided that the three remaining suspects should be put on trial in the High Court.Swiegers, a friend and the friend’s two daughters were in the Goreangab Dam area on the evening of January 18 2007 to view and photograph Comet McNaught, which was said to be the brightest comet to be visible from Earth in more than 40 years, when they were attacked by a group of robbers.It is alleged that Kleopas, Kiimba and Shikongo were the robbers who, armed with knives and firearms, charged at Swiegers and his companions, held them at gunpoint, and then shot Swiegers in the chest.They allegedly stole various items, including two cellphones, three cameras, binoculars, a global positioning system device, two wallets, and about N$500 in cash, during the incident.The three charged men face counts of murder, robbery with aggravating circumstances, illegal possession of a 9 mm calibre Makarov pistol and illegal possession of nine rounds of 9 mm ammunition.Each of them told Judge Louis Muller yesterday that they had applied to the Directorate of Legal Aid to be provided with legal representation for their trial, but that they have not yet received any reply on their applications.Judge Muller postponed their case to July 24, when they are scheduled to make another pre-trial appearance in the High Court.The three suspects are remaining in custody.Two Okahandja resi­dents were initially charged with Kleopas, Kiimba and Shikongo for the murder of Windhoek car dealer Cornelius (‘Neels’) Swiegers.The charges against the two, who were alleged to have bought items stolen from Swiegers and three companions during the fatal robbery, were withdrawn when the Prosecutor General decided that the three remaining suspects should be put on trial in the High Court.Swiegers, a friend and the friend’s two daughters were in the Goreangab Dam area on the evening of January 18 2007 to view and photograph Comet McNaught, which was said to be the brightest comet to be visible from Earth in more than 40 years, when they were attacked by a group of robbers.It is alleged that Kleopas, Kiimba and Shikongo were the robbers who, armed with knives and firearms, charged at Swiegers and his companions, held them at gunpoint, and then shot Swiegers in the chest.They allegedly stole various items, including two cellphones, three cameras, binoculars, a global positioning system device, two wallets, and about N$500 in cash, during the incident.The three charged men face counts of murder, robbery with aggravating circumstances, illegal possession of a 9 mm calibre Makarov pistol and illegal possession of nine rounds of 9 mm ammunition.Each of them told Judge Louis Muller yesterday that they had applied to the Directorate of Legal Aid to be provided with legal representation for their trial, but that they have not yet received any reply on their applications.Judge Muller postponed their case to July 24, when they are scheduled to make another pre-trial appearance in the High Court.The three suspects are remaining in custody.