Iuze Mukube

Jonas Murao, a man facing multiple charges of rape and housebreaking, is said to have admitted to committing the crimes for which he is being tried in the Windhoek High Court. 

The State Advocate Dominic Lisulo during cross-examination on Thursday said, Murao (45) admitted in his response to the State’s pre-trial memorandum that he had stolen various items from a shop in 2008.

Prior to the session, Murao had testified that the complainant, Rudolf Beukes, had given him the key to his shop in three of the counts of housebreaking and theft in which he is charged.

He stated that he took alcohol and cigarettes from the shop as compensation for the meat [two sheep carcasses] Beukes had asked him for. 

However, advocate Lisulo disputed that version, pointing out evidence from the State’s pre-trial memorandum.

In that memorandum, the accused admitted that he stole alcohol and cigarettes from the shop on 19 November 2008.

Lisulo contended that the accused’s explanation did not make sense, especially since Murao acknowledged that he was arrested on 23 November 2008 after allegedly breaking into the shop on 20 and 22 November 2008. Murao was adamant that he was only aware of the 19th of November and no other date, and that he returned the key to the owner that same day.

The accused added that he took the items as compensation for the meat he gave to the owner. On the counts of attempted rape and rape, he denied being in Hoachanas at the time and that he was working at a farm.

He further stated that “it was not me. She is lying” in reply to the sSate’s question that the woman he allegedly attempted to rape whilst she was sleeping recognised him at that time after she awoke.

The State put it to him that on the day the rape incidents took place in February 2012, 14 May 2016, and 12 November 2016, he was spotted in Hoachanas.

Lisulo stated that evidence from various witnesses placed him in Hoachanas at the time, whereas his testimony placed him at a farm. He questioned why the witnesses would all lie, and Murao simply responded that they were lying and that he was on the farm at the time and only came to Hoachanas after the offences were committed.

Additionally, Murao vehemently denied being involved in the rape of the minor [four-month-old baby girl] on 12 November 2016.

He also denied abduction or carrying off the baby from her mother’s house on said day.

Murao faces nine charges, including two counts of rape, three counts of housebreaking and theft, one count of housebreaking with intent to rape and rape, two counts of housebreaking with intent to rape and attempted rape, and one count of abduction.

The charge against the accused arises from events that allegedly took place at Hoachanas in November 2008, February 2012, May 2016 and November 2016.

Murao is represented by Peru Liebenberg.

The matter was postponed to 24 March 2026 for submissions before conviction. 

–mukubeiuze@gmail.com