The lack of legal representation for a pensioner currently serving a life sentence for killing his girlfriend when she tried breaking up with him has caused a bump in his appeal.
Making an appearance in the High Court on Friday, Andrew Britz (64) was informed that he needed to sort out his legal representation issue so his appeal may be heard.
“The court is ready to hear your application. The issue of legal representation is the only thing holding back the hearing,” said judge Claudia Claassen.
Britz informed the court he applied for a lawyer with the directorate of legal aid and they are yet to update him on the status of his application.
Britz is appealing his sentence after judge Christie Liebenberg slapped him with life imprisonment in November 2017. Liebenberg convicted Britz on a charge of murder read with the provisions of the Domestic Violence Act, on 17 November, for the stabbing to death of Juliana Sarvanda Garises (44) for daring to leave him for another man.
At the time, the court indicated that life imprisonment is befitting, as Britz who is a habitual offender has no regard for human life.
The convict has a spate of prior convictions stretching over a period of 22 years, ranging from two murders to attempted murder, robbery with aggravating circumstances, assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, assault, malicious damage to property, and crimen injuria.
In this matter, witnesses testified that Britz and the deceased were in an intimate relationship for a relatively short time and on that fateful night, she told him she no longer loved him as she fancied her former boyfriend. Britz immediate reaction was that, if he could not have her, then no one would.
He firstly threatened to kill the deceased in an attempt for her to remain his girlfriend. After discovering that his threats did not bear the desired result, he carried out the threat.
The appeal was postponed to 26 July to allow Britz to get legal representation.
-mamakali@nepc.com.na