A doctor attached to the intensive care unit at the Windhoek Central hospital, on Monday dismissed claims that the medical personnel at the Katutura hospital’s emergency unit were negligent when they treated the deceased wife of a murder accused.
Doctor Allison Ferreira was giving evidence in the murder trial of Patrick Geingob, a former teacher accused of fatally stabbing his wife 12 times causing her death. He is charged with murder and defeating or obstructing the course of justice, one count of assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm, and one count of common assault. He pled not guilty to the first two charges due to a diagnosis that he suffered from major depression syndrome during the incident.
With regards to the assault charges, his Legal Aid-instructed lawyer Jermaine Muchali said his client pleads not guilty due to the vagueness of the dates of the alleged incidents, and declined to provide a plea explanation, opting instead to remain silent.
The State is alleging Geingob slapped his wife, Merentha Geingos, in 2011 with an open hand with the intent to cause her serious bodily harm. He is also accused of slapping one Ragel Boois in the face.
It is further alleged that he killed his wife in the kitchen of their marital home in Okuryangava by stabbing her with a knife 12 times in front of their children.
Geingos died on 14 April 2019 after she was transported to the Katutura State hospital but succumbed to injuries upon her arrival.
During Geingob’s failed bail hearing, the court was informed that he arrived home late that night and had an argument with Geingos, which resulted in him stabbing her.
Court documents state that Geingos and their children were asleep on the night in question when Geingob arrived and loudly demanded entrance into the residence. Geingos opened the door, voiced her displeasure at his behaviour, and went to the bedroom. Geingob then allegedly went to the kitchen and armed himself with a knife, and attacked her.
People residing on the same erf managed to remove the knife from him, whereafter he went to a friend’s place, where it is alleged he removed the clothes he was wearing during the fatal stabbing.
Thereafter, Geingob handed himself over to the police and has been in custody ever since.
He is claiming that his wife could still be alive today if it was not for the negligence of the medical personnel who first treated her at the Katutura hospital. According to him, she was in a stable condition when she arrived at the hospital and the medical personnel exacerbated her condition.
Dr Ferreira, however, contradicted this and said that when the deceased arrived at the Windhoek Central hospital, there was nothing they could do for her as she was already in an advanced stage of hypovolemic shock caused by severe blood loss due to several penetrating stab wounds.
The matter continues in court with the State represented by Seredine Jacobs and Windhoek High Court judge Herman January presiding.
Pic: Geingob
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