The trial of two Zimbabwean citizens, accused of murdering a nine-year-old girl who lived with them, was put on hold yesterday after the victim’s mother was re-arrested, following surfacing incriminating evidence.
Due to these developments, State Advocate Ethel Ndlovu brought an application for a postponement of the trial, as the State intends to join Rachel Kureva, the biological mother, in the matter.
According to Ndlovu, the police managed to obtain a statement from the 14-year-old son of Edward Nkata (39) and Caroline Nkata (38), who are accused of the brutal murder of Akundaishe Natalie Chipomho.
The statement also implicates Kureva.
This led to her arrest on Monday, after which she made a first appearance in the Windhoek Magistrate Court, where her trial was postponed to 31 January for a prosecutor general decision by Magistrate Kandiwapa Nembia.
Kureva, who was previously represented by Mbanga Siyomunji on Legal Aid instructions, indicated she will again apply for legal aid; she was remanded in custody.
The prosecutor general declined to prosecute her in January last year when she decided to arraign the Nkatas in the High Court.
Windhoek High Court Judge Claudia Claasen yesterday granted the postponement and remanded the matter to 28 February for a status hearing, as Kureva must still go through the pre-trial phase in the High Court before she can be joined to the matter.
The Nkatas and Kureva will face a charge of murder, read with the provisions of the Combating of Domestic Violence Act, defeating the course of justice and violating a dead body.
The Nkatas will face additional charges of attempted murder, fraud, alternatively uttering a forged document, forgery and contravening the Immigration Control Act.
It is alleged the accused assaulted the nine-year-old Chipombo to death, burnt her body and dumped it in a rubbish bin in Windhoek North between 23 and 25 January 2020.
The Nkatas are also charged with attempting to kill Edward’s then 11-year-old son by hitting him with a belt and unknown object all over his body between 20 and 22 January 2020.
However, he survived the violent ordeal.
Caroline is represented by Milton Engelbrecht and Edward by Siyomunji.
– rrouth@nepc.com.nagh