Windhoek
The woman who allegedly stabbed her estranged husband to death and then burnt his body in his car, on Wednesday informed the court she wants a new lawyer to represent her in court.
Rachel Elizabeth Rittmann, 45, informed Judge Christi Liebenberg during a pre-trial appearance in the Windhoek High Court that she was not satisfied with the services of Milton Engelbrecht and wanted to apply for another lawyer.
Rittmann and her alleged helper and lover, Rhyno Richardo du Preez, 32, faces a count of murder read with the provisions of the Domestic Violence Act, conspiracy to commit murder, one count of robbery with aggravating circumstances and one count of defeating or obstructing or attempting to defeat or obstruct the course of justice.
It is alleged by the State that they stabbed Rittmann’s husband Rudolph Henry Rittmann to death at his home in Gobabis and then drove the body in his vehicle to a secluded spot in the veldt where they set the vehicle and corpse on fire. They allegedly did this to create the impression of an accident. Du Preez is the first accused and is represented by Boris Isaacks and Rittmann the second accused who was represented by Engelbrecht, both on the ticket of legal aid. During a previous pre-trial hearing both Rittmann and Du Preez indicated in pre-trial documents they will deny all charges against them. Du Preez also indicated that he will dispute the admissibility of admissions he allegedly made to the police, a confession made to a magistrate at Gobabis and pointings out he made to the police after his arrest.
Rittmann is being held at the Klein Windhoek Police Station, while Du Preez is being held at the Windhoek Correctional Facility’s holding cells.
Thirty-five-year old Rittmann’s burnt remains were found in his car a few kilometres outside Hosea Kutako International Airport, along the Windhoek-Gobabis road a few days after the incident.
According to police records and the indictment, the Rittmann couple had marital problems which would often lead to temporary separation during 2012 and 2013.
It is suspected the two accused in the matter plotted the man’s murder and worked together to that effect.
It is alleged that on August 23, 2013, Rachel allegedly spiked her husband’s drink with unidentified tablets which caused her husband to become drowsy and lose concentration. She allegedly then called in Du Preez, who was waiting nearby, to kill Rudolf.
The police suspect Rudolf was stabbed several times all over his body with a sharp object, presumably a knife, as he lay in a state of confusion on his bed.
The two then allegedly loaded his body into his car and drove it to the Kappsfarm area on the eastern outskirts of Windhoek, a few kilometres east of the police checkpoint where the car and the deceased victim were found burned.