Two young men accused of brutally murdering a transgender person in Windhoek two years ago intend to admit guilt on some of the charges, including a count of murder, that they are facing in the Windhoek High Court.
Deputy judge president Hannelie Prinsloo was informed during a pretrial court appearance by the two accused, Elias Nandomba (20) and Mervin Beukes (21), yesterday that they both intend to plead guilty to the charge of murder that they are facing.
Beukes also intends to admit guilt on a charge of violating a dead human body, while Nandomba will plead guilty to a count of defeating or obstructing the course of justice as well, Prinsloo was informed. The two accused will deny guilt on two counts of rape.
Nandomba and Beukes are accused of murdering Christof Frederik (30), a transgender woman who was known as ‘Sexy’, in the Otjomuise area of Windhoek on 2 May 2024.
Frederik was killed when she was stabbed 61 times with knives after Nandomba and Beukes encountered her during the early morning hours on a street in the Otjomuise area, the state is alleging.
It is also alleged that the two accused raped Frederik, and violated her body by mutilating her genitals after she had been killed. They are further accused of hiding a bloodstained knife and knife blade, hiding clothing and shoes that had blood on them, and destroying Nandomba’s shoes and clothing that had blood on them in an attempt to frustrate a police investigation into Frederik’s death and destroy evidence that could link them to an assault perpetrated on Frederik.
Nandomba and Beukes are both being held in custody, and have to make a next pretrial appearance in the High Court on 19 August.
Defence lawyer Mese Tjituri is representing Nandomba, while Beukes is being represented by Charles Beukes.
Deputy prosecutor general Johannes Kalipi represented the state during the pretrial hearing yesterday.
