WINDHOEK – Advocate Ethel Ndlovu on Friday provisionally withdrew murder and robbery charges against the two remaining suspects in the Kruger murders.
The murder of elderly farming couple Jan Hendrik (Jannie) Kruger, aged 80 and his wife 73-year-old Johanna Jacoba (Toets) Kruger at their farm – Farm Parry – in the Omaruru district during the night of March 12 to 13 2009 sent shockwaves through the farming community of Omaruru. The main suspect in the trial Ebson Tumbireeko alias ‘Daniel Kavari’ who was 32 at the time of his arrest escaped from custody in February 2010, and is believed to be hiding in Angola. His two co-accused Rafael Kahinatjo (47) and Gabriel Uazeua (35) spent four years in prison since their arrest in April 2009 until their release on bail early last year and the subsequent withdrawal of the charges against them. During their various court appearances they were represented by Advocate Lucia Hamutenya who during a previous appearance informed Judge Nate Ndauendapo that she is busy wrapping up her legal business and wanted to withdraw from the case altogether. She was not at court when the state provisionally withdrew the double murder charges. Kahinatjo and Uazeua were granted bail in the amount of N$3 000 each in April last year on condition that they report to the nearest police station every Monday between 08h00 and 10h00. Their bail money has now been refunded to them and the bail conditions removed.
The three men faced two counts of murder, one count of conspiracy to rob, three counts of housebreaking with intent to rob and robbery and two counts of possessing a firearm and ammunition without a license. In a previous court appearance Ndlovu also told the judge that the prosecution would have to drop the murder and robbery charges against Kahinatjo and Uazeua if their trial is separated from that of Tumbireeko.
By Roland Routh