Patrick Geingob, a former teacher accused of murdering his wife Merentha Geingos on 14 April 2019, is struggling to secure the money he needs to pay for a psychiatrist to testify on his behalf.
He is accused of murdering his wife by stabbing her at least 12 times with a kitchen knife at their house in Okuryangava in front of their children.
The Department of Legal Aid in the Ministry of Justice has refused to foot the bill of N$43 000 Dr Reinhardt Sieberhagen is charging to testify in the murder trial.
Geingob was a patient of Sieberhagen who diagnosed him with Major Depressive Disorder, a mental defect. However, during a court-sanctioned mental observation, Dr Hileni Ndjaba, a State psychiatrist, declared him fit to stand trial as he is able to follow court proceedings and offer a defence. Geingob claims he suffered from non-pathological incapacity during the attack caused by his intake of alcohol while experiencing a depressive mood attack. This, he says, makes him unaccountable for his actions in that moment. The accused pleaded not guilty to charges of murder and defeating or obstructing the course of justice, one count of assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm, and one count of common assault at the start of his trial. He claimed that he is not guilty on the first two charges because of a diagnosis that he suffered from a major depression syndrome during the incident. With regards to the assault charges, he said he is not guilty due to the vagueness on the dates of the alleged incidents. He further indicated that he will not provide a plea explanation, and will remain silent. The State is alleging that Geingob slapped his wife in 2011 with an open hand with the intent to cause her serious bodily harm. He is also accused of slapping one Ragel Boois in the face. During Geingob’s failed bail hearing, the court was informed that he arrived home late that night and had an argument with Geingos, which resulted in him stabbing her. Court documents state that Geingos and their children were asleep on the night in question, when Geingob arrived and loudly demanded entrance into the residence. Geingos opened the door, voiced her displeasure at his behaviour, and went to the bedroom. Geingob then allegedly went to the kitchen and armed himself with a knife, and attacked her. People who resided on the same erven managed to remove the knife from him, whereafter he went to a friend’s place where he got rid of the clothes he was wearing, it is further alleged. Thereafter, Geingob handed himself over to the police, and has been in custody since. The 40-year-old accused had already undergone two mental observations that declared him fit to stand trial, although a private psychiatrist has found that Geingob suffered from a mental defect when he butchered his wife.
He now wants the private psychiatrist, Sieberhagen, to testify on his mental capacity during the attack. After Windhoek High Court Judge Herman January was informed about the struggle of Geingob, he agreed to postpone the matter until 11 April on the request of Geingob for him to try and source the money to pay for the psychiatrist.
The State is represented by Seredine Jacobs, and Geingob by Jermaine Muchali on instructions of Legal Aid.