Young man charged over panga attack

A YOUNG Windhoek resident, who is accused of chopping off part of his girlfriend’s right hand in a vicious panga attack last week, remains in Police custody after making a first court appearance on Friday.

In the attack that took place at a house in Katutura’s Havana area on Tuesday afternoon last week, Hileni Nakanyala (24) lost part of her right hand when one of her fingers was amputated with a panga.Nakanyala was allegedly attacked by her boyfriend, Lukas Dhimbulukweni (25), after she had told him that she wanted to end their relationship.In the attack, Nakanyala was hit on the head with a panga. When she tried to ward off more blows with the deadly instrument, she was struck on both her arms, and one of the fingers on her right hand was severed. The attacker ran off when neighbours intervened in an attempt to stop the attack.The incident took place at a house on Walvis Bay Street in the Havana area.Nakanyala was still being treated in a Windhoek hospital over the weekend.Dhimbulukweni was arrested on Wednesday.He appeared before Magistrate Frans Anderson in the Windhoek Magistrate’s Court in Katutura on Friday.The Magistrate informed Dhimbulukweni of his rights to legal representation and his right to apply for legal aid. Dhimbulukweni, who is charged with a count of attempted murder, read with the provisions of the Combating of Domestic Violence Act, informed the court that he wants to get a private lawyer to represent him.Public Prosecutor Salomé Bampton asked for a postponement of the case so that further investigations can be done.The Magistrate postponed the case to January 15, for further investigations to be carried out and so that Dhimbulukweni can get legal representation.He ordered that Dhimbulukweni be kept in custody until his next appearance in court.