WINDHOEK – Richard Hange, aged 26 will get his day in court after Judge President Petrus Damaseb set down his case for June 30 to July 04 this year before Judge Maphios Cheda.
The Judge President also enquired from lawyer Moudi Hangula who late last year withdrew as the Legal Aid appointed defence counsel for Hange what her status is. She informed the Judge President that everything is back on schedule and that she remains Hange’s defence counsel. Hangula was earlier this year summoned by Judge Alfred Siboleka to explain her withdrawal over an apparent lack of funds, while money was in fact available for her services. Hangula told Judge Siboleka at that time that she was erroneously informed by a clerk in the Department of Legal Aid that there was no money to pay for her services during the trial.
This came after Advocate Jack Eixab informed the judge that he was told by legal aid that it had enough funds available to pay Hangula for her services. Hange who remains in custody since his arrest in September 2011 when he was only 24-years-old is charged with the murder of his live-in girlfriend Lisa Kandovazu on September 27, 2011. It is alleged in the indictment that Hange and the deceased were in a domestic relationship and had a child together. According to the summary of substantial facts an argument erupted between Hange and Kandovazu at the latter’s residence in the informal settlement of Havana in Windhoek. It is alleged that Hange hit the deceased with unknown blunt object on her head, tried to strangle her and/or stabbed her at least twice with a knife. Kandovazu died on the scene due to blood loss caused by one of the stab wounds, while the injuries caused by the blunt force also contributed to her death.
By Roland Routh