Iuze Mukube 

John Kangumbe Mutirua (24), who was convicted of murdering two individuals in separate incidents in 2020 and 2023, has been sentenced to two terms of life imprisonment by the Windhoek High Court. 

The sentence was imposed yesterday by High Court Acting Judge Makapa Simasiku. 

Judge Simasiku found that Mutirua’s criminal history shows a rapid and alarming escalation from early offences at age 16 to serious violent crimes, including murder, attempted murder, and robbery. 

He added that this demonstrated a clear disregard for human life and a readiness to use lethal force with little provocation. 

Simasiku found Mutirua’s actions caused irreversible harm, including the deaths of Albertus Maasdorp and Meno Tjizera, devastating their families. 

Tjizera was stabbed in the back of his head and chest between 30-31 October 2020 at Epako, Gobabis. On 16 July 2023, Mutirua allegedly robbed Maasdorp and later stabbed him after claiming Maasdorp stole his blanket. Mutirua faced nine charges: two of murder with intent, two of attempted murder, robbery, obstructing justice, two of rape, and attempted rape. 

The acting judge found Mutirua poses a serious, ongoing danger to society and shows no genuine remorse, evidenced by denial of charges, failure to apologize, and attempts to evade justice. He refused responsibility and is unlikely to be rehabilitated, justifying a sentence that protects the public. 

The acting judge said Maasdorp and Tjivera are permanently robbed of a second chance, with the offender hypocritically begging for leniency. Beyond the loss of life, the deceased’s dependents are left financially destitute and emotionally vulnerable, enduring the ripple effects of Mutirua’s violence. 

He found Maasdorp’s murder heinous because of its premeditation, especially after the accused discovered his blankets missing. 

“He embarked on a predatory search, unequivocally and shamelessly announcing his murderous intent to all and sundry. 

This blatant declaration of intent to take life induces a profound sense of shock and portrays the offender as a man with a pathological lack of respect for human life,” said the acting judge. 

He said that only by luck or divine fate did Ishmael Xhao and Sililika Witbeen avoid death. 

“His actions demonstrate a disturbing propensity to resort to lethal force with terrifying ease. He remains a volatile and lethal risk to any member of society who might inadvertently cross his path,” said the acting judge. 

He found that the accused preyed on vulnerable children and committed brutal sexual violations. 

“The wickedness of the offender reached its peak when he sought to satisfy his bestial desires while simultaneously attempting to force another person into the world of sexual violence by compelling them to engage in a sexual act with HKT,” he said. 

Mutirua, 16 at the time, was convicted in 2018 of raping a nine-year-old girl and forcing a seven-year-old boy to also have sex with her. 

The judge found the victim suffered profound trauma, including night terrors and insomnia, leading to a permanent state of suffering called ‘introvert syndrome,’ as described by her mother. 

“Rape is undoubtedly one of the most atrocious, degrading and invasive acts that one human being can commit against another,” he said. 

The judge emphasised that serious crimes require the court to show no mercy to those who violate human rights. 

“If there is one message that should go out from this court today, then it is that those making themselves guilty of committing serious crimes against the vulnerable and innocent in this country must not expect to be treated with soft hands,” said the acting judge. 

The need for harsh punishments is emphasized by the failure of traditional sentencing to curb violence, he added. Mutirua was sentenced to life for two murders, four years for two attempted murders, three years for robbery, a year for obstructing justice, 15 years each for two rapes, and eight years for attempted murder. 

The judge ordered sentences to run concurrently: the two murder counts together; robbery, trying to obstruct justice, and attempted murder together with another attempted murder; rape and attempted rape together with another rape charge. The convict will serve a total of 44 years. 

State advocate Maria Shilongo was for the State, and Ileni Velikoshi was representing the accused. 

–mukubeiuze@gmail.com