WINDHOEK – A 31-year-old woman is living in fear of her life after she was seriously assaulted in Gemende location in Katutura on Saturday by an alleged drug-crazed man.
The accused, Jacobus Speedo, appeared in court on Monday and was granted N$500 bail on a charge of attempted murder. Natasha Mulonga who shared her story with New Era says she was on her way to a taxi when the man launched an unprovoked attack on her. She said the man busted her on the back of the head with a broken bottle as she passed him. Spokesman of the Namibian police, Deputy Commissioner, Edwin Kanguatjivi yesterday confirmed that the suspect was granted bail despite opposition from the police. “I can confirm such an incident occurred and the police officer investigating the crime indicated that he should not be granted bail, but the court granted him bail of N$500,” said Kanguatjivi. “He was already busy with other people and I was just on my own going to take a taxi when he attacked me. I didn’t say hello to him neither did he say hello to me,” she said. She then ran to a nearby bar where other people had sought refuge, but the man followed her to the bar and attacked her again with another bottle, Mulonga explained.
She retaliated and hit him with the same broken bottle, which bruised him on the check and that infuriated him even further, she explained. She ran out to the street where he again attacked her with bricks before slashing her with a knife on her left foot, left arm, left breast, left hand and fingers, the back bone and neck.
She also sustained injuries to her scalp. “He made threats to kill me because apparently I hurt him on his cheek and in his forty years of living he had not experienced something like that,” she said.
Kanguatjivi, who also confirmed that the man had threated Mulonga, said he does not understand why the man was granted bail but said the courts have “their own way of doing things. We are on the receiving end all the time, but this time it’s with the courts.” He added that the victim was advised to open a separate case in order for the police to re-arrest the suspect considering that he is still making threats. Meanwhile, Mulonga said she continues to receive death threats and explained that the man is known in the location for abusing narcotic substances. “I am fearing for my life, because he threatened to kill me and he is out on bail,” said Mulonga who questioned the fairness of the judicial system.
By Alvine Kapitako