Windhoek
The four men accused of killing renowned private stock theft investigator, Hiambepo ‘Major’ Kazeurua, yesterday denied all the charges against them in the Windhoek High Court when their trial began before Judge Alfred Siboleka.
The accused – Stockley Kavejao, 40, Matheu Kakururume, 29, Muvare Kaporo, 25, and Afas Kamutjemo, 38 – pleaded not guilty to charges of murder, stock theft and defeating or obstructing the course of justice.
Confirming Stockley Kavejao’s plea, defence counsel Slysken Makando told the court his client denies each and every allegation the State preferred against him.
Reading from a prepared plea explanation, Makando said Kavejao further denies causing the death of the deceased, as well as conspiring with any of his co-accused to have the victim killed. He further denied having had any agreement or understanding with Afas Kamutjemo to steal cattle, and neither acted in common purpose with any of his co-accused at any time, according to him.
Kavejao also denied that the stolen cattle were ever found in his possession.
Regarding the confessions of Matheu Kakururume and Muvare Kaporo in which they implicate him, Kavejao disputed the contents of the confessions and added that in any case a confession can only be used against the author of such confession, “according to the Criminal Procedure Act”.
He further made certain admissions such as the identity of the deceased, his cause of death, the dates and times involved and the ownership of the 15 cattle that were allegedly stolen.
According to Makando, his client puts the State to the proof of each and every allegation against him.
Defence counsels Bronell Uirab and Monty Karuaihe who appear for Kakururume and Kaporo respectively, on instructions of legal aid, told the court that their clients would make use of the right to remain silent and that their defence would become apparent during the course of the trial.
They also denied each and every allegation against them and put the State to the proof of such.
Jan Wessels who represents Kamutjemo on private instruction confirmed his client’s plea and told the court that Kamutjemo had no knowledge of the theft or transportation of the said cattle.
He said his client was willing to provide an alibi for the time it was alleged the cattle were either stolen or transported, but as the State was unable to provide exact times and dates it was impossible for him to do.
He however indicated should the times and dates become known during the course of the trial he would certainly provide an alibi for his whereabouts.
While he conceded to be in the vicinity of Gobabis on numerous occasions during December 2012, he denied having met with any of his co-accused, or that he ever gave money to Kakururume or Kaporo to escape from capture.
He further put the onus of proof on the State for each and every allegation against him.
According to the indictment, the accused conspired to kill Kazeurua to prevent him from tracing cattle they had stolen, and Kaporo and Kakururume ambushed the deceased and killed him by strangling and throwing sand in his mouth to prevent him from breathing.
This allegedly happened on December 28, 2012.
The partly burned body of Kazeurua was found in an aardvark burrow on January 7, after he was reported missing a few days earlier.