Windhoek
Judge Dinah Usiku yesterday set down the period February 8 to 19 for the plea and trial of Paulus Shilongo, 33, who is accused of beating his common law wife to death on Farm Tredgold in the Gobabis District.
Trevor Brockerhoff, the State-funded lawyer of Shilongo, told the judge that he replied to the State’s pre-trial memorandum and is ready to start with the trial.
Deputy Prosecutor General Antonia Verhoef indicated to the court that the prosecution is likewise ready to proceed.
According to the charge sheet, Shilongo assaulted Dina Eises by pushing her, kicking and slapping her, tearing her clothes off, hitting and throwing her with stones on her head, and striking her with a plastic pipe on November 8, 2012.
It is further stated in the indictment that Shilongo then dragged the deceased to their shack, situated at a cattle post on the neighbouring farm, Geluk in the Gobabis District, where the assault continued into the early morning hours of November 9, 2012.
The deceased died as a result of head injuries caused by the assault. Shilongo apparently covered her body with a blanket inside the shack and locked the place from the outside with a chain and padlock before fleeing the scene, the indictment reads.
He has been denied bail and remains in custody.