WINDHOEK – A Keetmanshoop resident accused of murder and rape in two separate incidents during 2009 will have to wait until May 13 to hear his fate.
Judge Nate Ndauendapo told Marius Thomas, 33, he will deliver his judgment in May after both the State and the defence submitted arguments on the verdict to be delivered.
The arguments were presented last Friday. Monty Karuaihe, who appears for Thomas on instructions of the Directorate of Legal Aid, told the court his client should be acquitted on all the two charges. In the main charge, he is accused of murdering Likius Ngesheyaa at the Farm Kaalvlakte in the Bethanie District during the night of February 25 to 26, 2009. He is also charged with robbery with aggravating circumstances for allegedly stealing a Ford pick-up (bakkie), or alternatively unlawful use of property in that incident.
He said Thomas acted in self-defence when he struck the deceased with a pickaxe handle and he then left with the deceased’s vehicle to seek help.
On the second charge, it is alleged Thomas raped an elderly woman at Farm Gellap-Ost in the Keetmanshoop District and robbed the complainant and her daughter of a Nissan 1400 pick-up (bakkie) and N$2 700 in cash on August 3, 2009, or alternatively he unlawfully used property, with regard to the 1400 pick-up.
He is also charged of kidnapping the complainant after he allegedly forced her to accompany him when he drove the 1400 pick-up to Keetmanshoop.
Another charge he is facing in connection with the rape is indecent assault for allegedly forcing the complainant to touch his privates during the trip from Gellap-Ost.
He pleaded not guilty to these charges and vehemently denied it was him who committed the offences.
DNA found on the complainant linked him to the crime.
State Advocate Jack Eixab told the court the State has proven beyond a reasonable doubt Thomas murdered Ngesheyaa and was the one who put the complainant in the rape and kidnapping charge through her hellish ordeal.
Thomas remains in custody.