A Yyoung Hardap region resident who admitted that he killed his girlfriend by strangling her two years ago has received an effective prison term of 15 years at the end of his trial in the Windhoek High Court.
The trial of Johannes Bock (21) was concluded yesterday with judge Claudia Claasen sentencing him to 18 years’ imprisonment, of which three years are suspended for a period of five years on condition that Bock is not convicted of murder or culpable homicide involving an assault, committed during the period of suspension.
Bock pleaded guilty to a charge of murder, read with the provisions of the Combating of Domestic Violence Act, four weeks ago.
He admitted that he killed his then girlfriend, Sara Jonker (17), at Gochas in the Hardap region during the night of 12 to 13 June 2024.
Jonker was killed about two weeks before what would have been her 18th birthday.
Jonker did not deserve to die in the brutal manner that she did, Claasen said during the sentencing.
She also said the young age of Bock, who was 19 years old when he killed Jonker, does not shield him from accountability for the serious act he carried out, but the law does not treat a youthful offender in the same manner as an adult offender.
Bock “committed the offence during the final stage of adolescence, when he had not yet attained full emotional maturity and judgement, particularly in his handling of conflict”, Claasen remarked, saying this was regarded as an important extenuating circumstance.
Claasen also recounted that Bock and Jonker were both exposed to extremely difficult socio-economic circumstances, marked by poverty and an absence of parental responsibility, as children.
“It is an indictment against society, and, particularly, these parents, as these youngsters seemingly followed in their footsteps. It led them onto the downward spiral of domestic violence,” Claasen said.
In a plea statement given to the court after he admitted guilt, Bock said he and Jonker were involved in an argument at his father’s house.
She grabbed him by his clothes during the argument and did not let go when he told her to, Bock said.
He added that he got angry and grabbed her by her neck with his hands.
“I wanted to hurt her,” Bock said.
“After a short while I let go of her. After I let go of her, she fell onto the ground and became unconscious.”
Bock continued that he felt on Jonker’s neck to check if he could detect a pulse, but there was none.
“Although I did not have the direct intention to kill Sara Jonker, I admit that I foresaw the possibility that she might die from suffocation as a result of me strangling her,” Bock stated.
“Despite me foreseeing this possibility, I continued strangling her.
“I admit that strangling her the way I did I caused her death.”
Bock also said he was not defending himself when he strangled Jonker, and he did not believe he was acting in self-defence at that stage.
He and Jonker were involved in “an on-and-off relationship” at the time of the incident, Bock recounted.
Claasen found Bock guilty of murder based on his plea.
Bock demonstrated genuine remorse, and his admission of guilt was his way of taking responsibility for his deed, Claasen said during the sentencing.
The sentence given to Bock should give him an opportunity for correction and reintegration into society when he has completed the sentence, she said.
Legal aid lawyer Linus Samaria represented Bock during his trial.
State advocate Sakaria Kuutondokwa prosecuted.
