Tearful father in court

THE Khomasdal man who shot his baby daughter, wife, son and sister-in-law on Friday night tried to shoot himself in the head, but the bullet only grazed his forehead, it has emerged.

Michael Endjala (28), whose shooting spree turned his family’s life upside down, yesterday made his first appearance in the Katutura Magistrate’s Court. Endjala, a resident of Windhoek’s Khomasdal suburb, faces four charges of attempted murder after shooting his wife, their two children and his sister-in-law at their home on Friday night.Fighting back his tears, a visibly distraught Endjala heard that he would have to spend the next three months locked up in the Katutura Police cells waiting for his case to return to court on January 19 next year.He took the stand in the presence of his father as well as a number of members of his wife’s family.Endjala was denied bail while Police investigate the circumstances surrounding his arrest on Friday night.At around 20h00 that night, gunshots and screams followed by screeching tyres woke up people living in Garnet Street, where Endjala’s wife Priscilla, their son Franco and her sister Dorothy Gatyehe lay in pools of blood in their backyard flat.By then Endjala had rushed off in his car, apparently to the MediClinic hospital with his 16-month-old daughter Sissy, who had been shot in the chest.It was here that Police would later arrest him while the rest of his family were being treated at the Central State Hospital.Priscilla Endjala had been shot in the chest, Gatyehe was wounded in the stomach, and eight-year-old Franco Endjala was shot in the left leg.Police found a pistol and four spent cartridges in the Endjalas’ room, and later managed to speak to Franco in the hospital.The eight-year-old reportedly confirmed that his father was the one who shot them.Endjala apparently also tried to shoot himself in the head, but the bullet only grazed his forehead.Endjala’s father said yesterday that, while he had been in constant contact with his son since Friday night, he was still unable to determine what could have driven his son to such a violent ouburst.By yesterday morning, Endjala had offered to make a statement to the Police on what transpired that night.Baby Sissy has now been moved from the private MediClinic hospital to the intensive care unit of the Central State Hospital.Staff there yesterday expressed optimism that she would survive the ordeal, but no official statement was made on her condition.Franco and his aunt Dorothy have since been moved to the Katutura State Hospital, and the boy was expected to be discharged yesterday.The sisters, Pricilla and Dorothy, are both still in a serious condition.Priscilla has not been informed of her daughter’s condition.Endjala, a resident of Windhoek’s Khomasdal suburb, faces four charges of attempted murder after shooting his wife, their two children and his sister-in-law at their home on Friday night.Fighting back his tears, a visibly distraught Endjala heard that he would have to spend the next three months locked up in the Katutura Police cells waiting for his case to return to court on January 19 next year.He took the stand in the presence of his father as well as a number of members of his wife’s family.Endjala was denied bail while Police investigate the circumstances surrounding his arrest on Friday night.At around 20h00 that night, gunshots and screams followed by screeching tyres woke up people living in Garnet Street, where Endjala’s wife Priscilla, their son Franco and her sister Dorothy Gatyehe lay in pools of blood in their backyard flat.By then Endjala had rushed off in his car, apparently to the MediClinic hospital with his 16-month-old daughter Sissy, who had been shot in the chest. It was here that Police would later arrest him while the rest of his family were being treated at the Central State Hospital.Priscilla Endjala had been shot in the chest, Gatyehe was wounded in the stomach, and eight-year-old Franco Endjala was shot in the left leg.Police found a pistol and four spent cartridges in the Endjalas’ room, and later managed to speak to Franco in the hospital.The eight-year-old reportedly confirmed that his father was the one who shot them.Endjala apparently also tried to shoot himself in the head, but the bullet only grazed his forehead.Endjala’s father said yesterday that, while he had been in constant contact with his son since Friday night, he was still unable to determine what could have driven his son to such a violent ouburst.By yesterday morning, Endjala had offered to make a statement to the Police on what transpired that night.Baby Sissy has now been moved from the private MediClinic hospital to the intensive care unit of the Central State Hospital.Staff there yesterday expressed optimism that she would survive the ordeal, but no official statement was made on her condition.Franco and his aunt Dorothy have since been moved to the Katutura State Hospital, and the boy was expected to be discharged yesterday.The sisters, Pricilla and Dorothy, are both still in a serious condition.Priscilla has not been informed of her daughter’s condition.