Windhoek
A Windhoek resident who faces 21 charges, including rape and attempted murder, was found guilty in the High Court on Thursday.
Judge Alfred Siboleka found Pinias Kashawa, 35, guilty on the charges.
Kashawa was also found guilty on a count of housebreaking with intent to rob and robbery; housebreaking with intent to steal and theft; a count of assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm and on two counts of assault by threatening.
He was also found guilty on two counts of rape; two counts of attempted murder; as well as a count of illegal possession of a firearm and ammunition without a licence.
The prosecution was represented by State Advocate Palmer Khumalo.
The accused faced three counts of housebreaking with intent to rob and robbery, one count of housebreaking with intent to steal and theft, two counts of assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm, two counts of assault by threat, five counts of rape, one count of attempted rape and two counts of attempted murder, alternatively negligent discharge or handling of a firearm.
In addition he also faced three counts of pointing of a firearm and one count each of possession of a firearm and ammunition without a licence. According to him, he was in the north when he, according to the prosecution’s case against him, armed with a pistol, broke into a house at Okuryangava, approached three women in the house and threatened to shoot and kill them on November 25, 2009.He further said that on the night he was arrested, he was on his way home from Monte Christo after escorting a relative taking a bus to the north.
He said on his way back to his shack in Havana settlement, he walked along a footpath through Okuryangava and suddenly heard two gunshots and fell to the ground. “All of a sudden I was surrounded by people, including the police, who asked me who shot me and I answered I did not know,” the accused had testified in his own defence.
He was then treated for a gunshot wound and loaded into the ambulance and taken to Katutura hospital.
Kashawa was shot when he reportedly exchanged gunfire with a police officer, Fredinard Nghiliganye, who testified it was by the grace of God the shot Kashawa fired missed him.