WINDHOEK – A lawyer appointed to represent a young man who faces a charge of murder in the Windhoek High Court has been summoned by the court to explain why she withdrew from the case.
The lawyer, Moudi Hangula, had earlier withdrew from the case informing Judge Alfred Siboleka that the Department of Legal Aid had informed her office that it would not be able to cover her fees for the trial, hence her withdrawal.
But yesterday State Advocate Jack Eixab informed Judge Siboleka that the same department had advised him that it has enough funds to cover the defence legal fees for the trial.
Hangula was representing Richard Hange who is accused of murder. Judge Siboleka issued instructions that Hangula appears before him tomorrow.
Eixab asked the judge to order that Hangula comes to court to explain the circumstances of the matter herself, failing which to lay a complaint against her with the Law Society of Namibia.
Judge Siboleka already indicated that he was reluctant to postpone the trial any further as the closest date for the hearing to be rescheduled is only next year.
Hange, who remains in custody since his arrest in September 2011 when he was only 24 years old is charged with the murder of his live-in girlfriend Lisa Kandovazu on September 27, 2011.
It is alleged in the indictment that Hange and the deceased were in a domestic relationship and had a child together. According to the summary of substantial facts an argument erupted between Hange and Kandovazu at the latter’s residence in the informal settlement of Havana in Wanaheda, Windhoek.
It is alleged that Hange hit the deceased with unknown blunt object(s) on her head, tried to strangle her and/or stabbed her at least twice with a knife.
Kandovazu died on the scene due to blood loss caused by one of the stab wounds while the injuries caused by the blunt force also contributed to the deceased’s demise.
By Roland Routh