A resident of Känaan location in Gobabis yesterday claimed his arrests on further charges after an initial charge of housebreaking with intent to rob and robbery as well as two counts of rape, was a witch-hunt by the police.
Richard Kennedy Haoseb, who is conducting his own defence after he fired three Legal Aid-instructed lawyers, told Windhoek High Court Judge Dinnah Usiku that the police put the blame for other break-ins and rapes at his door because he was known to them. He testified in his own defence that after his first arrest for allegedly raping two women at knife-point after breaking into their shack, he was known to the police, and they would thus just look for him whenever there was such an offence without properly investigating. He told the judge that he was not guilty of the first offence, as he and the women he is alleged to have raped had a business transaction, where he would pay them N$250 for intercourse. However, after they concluded their business, the two ladies upped their price to N$500, and threatened to charge him with rape if he did not pay. Since he could not pay the N$500, Haoseb said, they went to lay a charge against him, and he was arrested. With regards to the further charges against him, the accused said there is no evidence that he committed the offences. While the complainants in the other matters positively identified him as the perpetrator, he claims that the police showed them his photograph when they opened their respective cases. Haoseb continued that no DNA evidence was presented to court, although he provided blood samples to the police freely and voluntarily. All in all, he said, there is no evidence on which he could be convicted. He further said the police did not investigate the offences because, according to him, they had their fall guy.
Haoseb pleaded not guilty to five counts of rape, and two counts of housebreaking with intent to rob and robbery at the start of his trial. He also denied four counts of robbery with aggravating circumstances, and one count of kidnapping.
The State alleges that he broke into the shack of his first two victims during December 2015 while they were sleeping and held them at knifepoint, demanding valuables.
After the women gave him their cellphones and cash, he proceeded to rape each of them. However, the third woman who was also in the shack escaped being raped by virtue of her very advanced pregnancy. He, however, allegedly also robbed her of her cellphone and cash. Furthermore, the indictment stated that Haoseb, during December 2017, again entered the shack of another two women at the Herero Block in Gobabis, threatened the inhabitants with a knife, and demanded their valuables. After the victims - who may not be named to protect their identities - gave him their cellphones, cash and other valuables, he raped each of them at knifepoint, it is alleged. It further states that after he raped the two ladies, he waylaid a young girl ,and instructed her at knifepoint to go with him against her will to another shack where he raped her and kept her, depriving her of her liberty. He denied any knowledge of these offences.
The case continues, with Palmer Khumalo representing the State. Haoseb remains in custody.
-rrouth@nepc.com.na