Iuze Mukube
Riddick Melchior /Narib (32), who was accused of killing his five-year-old stepson by hitting him repeatedly with a brick on the head and cutting him with a knife, was found guilty of the charge yesterday.
The deceased, Dantali Wilfried, was the son of his domestic partner, Memory Eises, whom he had been married to since 2020.
Windhoek High Court Judge Naomi Shivute handed down the conviction following /Narib’s guilty pleas to murder and defeating or obstructing the course of justice.
During the proceedings, State advocate Antonia Verhoef informed the court that the State was withdrawing three counts it levelled against the accused.
With the inclusion of murder and defeating or obstructing the course of justice, /Narib also faced the charges of rape, kidnapping and assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.
The last three were withdrawn, leaving only murder and defeating the course of justice.
/Narib pleaded guilty to the two counts and gave a plea explanation.
He explained that on 6 January 2023 in Walvis Bay, he found the deceased at a tuck shop in the Tutaleni neighbourhood, and upon seeing him, the deceased followed him to the Narraville area.
Upon reaching the dunes in the Narraville area, he stated he proceeded to assault the deceased by repeatedly and continuously hitting him on the head with a brick and cutting him with a knife.
He admitted the deceased died due to the fatal injuries he sustained from his assault.
/Narib explained that his actions were from being angry with the deceased’s mother, but admitted that, regardless of his anger and the situation between him and his wife, he had no right to assault and murder her son.
Therefore, by his own admission, his actions were intentional and unlawful.
He also explained that he buried the body in a shallow grave in the dune and did so with the intention to frustrate and interfere with police investigations.
Additionally, he stated he did so to protect himself from being prosecuted for a crime of murder.
He stated he is remorseful for his actions.
The victim died due to traumatic haemorrhage of the brain and facial injuries.
The mother of the deceased, Eises, was called to testify yesterday.
Taking the dock, she stated that by the time of the incident, she and the accused were living separately.
She explained that the estrangement began because the accused was abusive and was hitting her, and as a result, she even opened a case against him.
The State had alleged that Eises, the day before the incident on 5 January 2023, made a statement to the police in support of an intended application for a protection order against the accused, as she feared him.
Prior to this incident, it was also alleged that the accused assaulted his wife in September 2022.
/Narib hit her multiple times in the face with his fists, causing an open wound on her lower lip and her face to swell.
The mother of the deceased and /Narib were married and had a child together.
Eises testified that she received a text message from the accused stating that he killed her son.
Additionally, she stated that on the day of his arrest, the accused looked her straight in her eyes and told her that he wanted her to feel that way.
“I was broken. I was confused and asked myself what was going on,” she added.
“He was a hyperactive child, very joyful and brought life to the house,” she said, describing her son.
Breaking down in court, she stated repeatedly, “He did not deserve to die like this.”
She said that all she wants is justice for her son and that what /Narib did was beyond repair and “it will not bring back my son, but at least it will ease my heart.”