Windhoek
The Windhoek Magistrate’s Court last week postponed the hearing of Andre Castri Friedel Dausab, 33, an IT technician accused of killing his trainee pastor girlfriend in Windhoek last year, to June 25 because police investigations into the matter are incomplete.
The case was also postponed last month because the accused’s lawyer was not present.
Prosecutor Erastus Hatutale informed the court last week that investigations into the matter are still incomplete.
Dausab’s lawyer, Willem Visser, expressed dismay at the pace of investigations, saying it could affect the rights of people involved in the matter. “It is my submission that lacklustre investigations such as these belie the name of the judicial system. It also tramples on the rights of the accused and indeed the family and of the deceased,” Visser said.
“I think it is high time that the public is made aware of the lack or disregard for proper investigations by the police,” Visser added.
The defence lawyer requested that the matter be withdrawn. However, Magistrate Ingrid Unengu denied the request. She said that based on the seriousness of the nature of the offence and because a plea has been entered, a withdrawal would not be possible at this stage.
Dausab at the time of his arrest worked at the Namibian College of Open Learning (Namcol). The murder victim was reportedly his girlfriend.
Last August he pleaded not guilty in court and was informed he could not plead insanity, as he was found mentally fit to stand trial.
Dausab is accused of murdering Gofaone Motlamme, 33, at the Paulinum Theological College in Windhoek on February 22 last year.
Motlamme, a Motswana who was a pastoral student at the college, died when Dausab allegedly repeatedly stabbed her with a knife in what appeared to have been a jealous rage.
Dausab was remanded in custody, where he has remained since his arrest.
Erastus Hatutale represented the State while Magistrate Jermaine Muchali presided.