The Katutura Magistrate’s Court has reluctantly given the office of the prosecutor general additional time to pronounce itself in the case of a 37-year-old man accused of killing and setting alight his live-in girlfriend on the outskirts of Windhoek in 2019.
Magistrate Olivia van der Colff said the accused, Simon Sheefeni has been in police custody for nearly two years and the State had more than two months to consult and prepare the prosecutor general’s decision.
Colff said she will grant a final postponement to 7 September for the prosecutor general’s decision.
“If the prosecutor general is not ready by then, the State should consider withdrawing the matter until when their affairs are in order,” she said.
The State, through prosecutor Victoria Likius, sought another postponement, citing the prosecutor general’s decision was not ready. “It appears the prosecutor general has to consider the matter herself since it is a possible High Court matter. We ask for a final remand to 7 October. The State apologises for the delay. However, the accused is facing very serious charges,” said Likius.
Sheefeni, who is in police custody after being denied bail, is facing a count of murder read with the provisions of domestic violence, a count of arson and another count of defeating the course of justice.
All charges emanate from the gruesome death of Katrina Kasita (38), who died on 21 September 2019 at Namibia Nalitungwe informal settlement on the outskirts of Windhoek.
The victim, a mother of six, was allegedly assaulted and killed before her body was set alight by Sheefeni, who later fled from the grisly scene.
It is suspected Sheefeni covered Kasita’s body with blankets, poured paraffin on it and set it alight in her shack. At the time, New Era also learnt, the suspect had attempted to burn Kasita before the killing.
– mamakali@nepc.com.na