Windhoek
The investigating officer in the rape and murder case of accused Johannes Lukuwa Hausiku yesterday told the court Hausiku had informed him that he sold the face of his two-year-old victim to a woman for N$10 000.
Warrant Officer Benestus Hoveka was testifying in the main trial when it resumed after Judge Nate Ndauendapo admitted statements and a confession Hausiku made to the police and a magistrate. According to Hoveka, when they arrived at the scene where the body was discovered its head was severed and the skull was fractured into bits.
Before that, he informed the court, the mother of the deceased who is also the complainant in six of the rape charges Hausiku faces was very confused when she first narrated her ordeal to him.
Initially she had claimed that Hausiku rescued her from four unknown men who killed her baby and wanted to rape her.
According to him she led them on a merry-go-round taking them to places where she was allegedly tied up and to a so-called camp where her attackers allegedly stayed.
He said that after fruitless searches for the places she mentioned she then told him it was Hausiku who had kidnapped and raped her and killed her baby.
Hausiku was arrested shortly after and he cooperated with the investigators from the start, Hoveka told the court.
According to Hoveka, Hausiku wanted to confess upon his arrest already, but he (Hoveka) wanted to give him more time to consider. Hoveka further told the court that at that time Outjo did not have a magistrate and all commissioned officers were stationed in Otjiwarongo.
He said that he did approach the magistrate when the latter was available and was told to give Hausiku another two days to reflect. After two days Hausiku was still eager and willing to make the confession, Hoveka said.
He further told the court that after a few days Hausiku asked to see him and while in his office he made the startling revelation that a certain Oshiwambo-speaking lady who sells homebrew asked him to bring her the face of a baby boy to “boost her business”.
The woman was later identified by one of his fellow officers as Monica Johannes Andreas, and they went to fetch her.
He said they brought her to the police station where she denied the allegation face to face with Hausiku. He further said his team thoroughly searched the home of Andreas but found nothing suspicious and had to let her go. Hausiku faces one count of murder, two counts of kidnapping, two counts of attempted rape, one count of defeating or obstructing or attempting to defeat or obstruct the course of justice, one count of robbery and eight counts of rape.
He remains in police custody.
Judge Nate Ndauendapo is on the bench and State Advocate Ethel Ndlovu represents the State.
Hausiku is being defended by Mbanga Siyomunji on instructions of legal aid.