KEETMANSHOOP – The Keetmanshoop Regional Court on Friday acquitted a 63-year-old farmer, who was accused of shooting and killing a suspected livestock thief. Coenraad Nolte was being tried for allegedly murdering Nankutu Faustinus Nyangana (28) on 10 February 2020 at his farm Gariganus about 20 kilometres out of Keetmanshoop.

In his ruling, magistrate Frans Anderson said the court was satisfied that Nolte did not exceed the bounds of self-defence when he shot Nyangana.

“The State did not prove beyond reasonable doubt that the accused acted with the requisite intention when he killed the deceased and, therefore, did not prove the charge of murder,” said the presiding officer.  The court concluded that the State failed to prove that Nolte was negligent when he discharged his firearm, killing Nyangana in the process.

Anderson went on to say that the court is satisfied that the State proved beyond reasonable doubt that Nolte, together with his co-accused Alex Cooper, Jan Steenkamp and Barnabas Rukamba assaulted State witness Efraim Fredericks, causing grievous bodily harm. 

During the trial, Fredericks testified that Nyangana took Nolte’s properties, namely small livestock, which he allegedly referred to as his. 

Fredericks added that whilst chasing the sheep, he heard a gunshot, after which Nyangana grabbed his chest and fell. 

Three people then approached him and started beating him with ‘knopkieries’ and horns. Nolte testified that his farm was targeted by thieves. He has so far lost about 1 000 small livestock. 

He stated that Nyangana at the time of the incident charged with a knife towards him and his employees.

Hence, he shot him to protect them from assault. The case was postponed to 13 February for submissions on sentencing. 

-sklukowski@nepc.com.na