Two men who are accused of murdering a Gobabis farming couple in January 2018, made a first appearance in the Windhoek High Court last week Thursday.

Bernadus Afrikaner (35) and Salatheul Unaeb (47) are accused of murdering Armin Siegfried Riedel (68) and wife Brunhild Riedel (66).

They allegedly burned the couple’s farmhouse to the ground. High Court judge Christi Liebenberg heard their case.

They will be represented by Melissa Windisch from the Pack and Company Incorporated law firm. Afrikaner and Unaeb are facing two counts of murder, one count of robbery with aggravating circumstances, one count of arson, one count of defeating the course of justice, three counts of contravening the Arms and Ammunition Act and one count of assault by threat.

It is alleged by the State that they overpowered the couple on their farm Grunfeld in the Gobabis district and murdered them. They allegedly killed Brunhild outside the house in an unknown manner whereafter they shot Armin in the head, causing his death. After ransacking the house and robbing several items, they set the residence on fire with the bodies of the deceased inside, making the cause of death almost impossible to detect. 

At first, it was suspected that the deaths were a result of an unfortunate fire, but further investigations led to the arrest of the two accused persons seven months after the incident. According to the indictment, the accused were employed at the farm and also resided there. 

The accused allegedly stole various properties including a pistol, knives, bedding and a washing basin. 

The contravention of the Arms and Ammunition Act charges relate to them being in possession of a firearm and ammunition without a licence and for selling a firearm to another person without a licence. 

The assault charge relates to a threat they made to a fellow employee who witnessed part of the attack not to reveal what he saw. 

They will return to court on 20 July for another pre-trial hearing and remain in custody.

- rrouth@nepc.com.na