The alleged killers of renowned stock theft investigator Hiambepo ‘Major’ Kazeurua are in for another long wait for the finalisation of their trial.

The matter, which was supposed to start in 2014, was plagued by postponements because of recusal applications, the withdrawal of lawyers and bail applications. 

This time, it is the unavailability of the transcribed record that has caused the delay.

Retired judge of the High Court, Alfred Siboleka, was told this week that the record is still unavailable for the state and defence counsels to prepare submissions before the verdict is delivered.

The judge then postponed the matter to 28 February next year to give the stenographers the opportunity to transcribe the record and for the counsels to prepare their submissions. 

Stockley Kauejao (45), Muvare Kaporo and Mathew Kakurume are facing charges of murder, stock theft and defeating or attempting to defeat or obstruct the course of justice while Afas Kamutjemo (45) is only facing a charge of stock theft. They all pleaded not guilty to the charges at the start of their trial. 

They put the onus of proof on the state for every allegation against them.

Kamutjemo pleaded not guilty to a charge of stock theft. It is alleged that the stolen cattle were mixed with his own cattle kept on his grandfather’s farm.

The judge previously cancelled Kauejao’s bail, and refused to entertain another bail application from him. 

Similarly, he refused to grant bail to Kaporo and Kakurume, who recently applied for bail after languishing in custody since their arrest in 2012. 

The only accused currently out on bail is Kamutjemo.

According to the indictment, the accused conspired to kill Kazeurua to prevent him from tracing cattle they had stolen, and Kaporo and Kakururume ambushed and killed Kazeurua by strangling him and stuffing sand into his mouth to stop him breathing. 

This allegedly happened on 28 December 2012. 

The partly burned body of Kazeurua was found in an aardvark burrow on 7 January 2013 after he had been reported missing days earlier. 

Kauejao is being represented by Salomon Kanyemba, Kaporo and Kakurume by Mbanga Siyomunji while Esekiel Ipinge is prosecuting.

The accused remain in custody at the section for trial awaiting inmates at the Windhoek Correctional Facility. 

The judge ordered that Kauejao should be kept separate from his co-accused. -rrouth@nepc.com.na