Windhoek
The trial of Otjimbingwe resident Siegfried Uirab who stands accused of killing his mother with an axe at the latter’s residence in Otjimbingwe, was set down on Wednesday for March 22 to April 1 next year.
Uirab will however still have to return to court on February 24 next year for a final pre-trial appearance before Judge Christi Liebenberg.
Uirab killed Erika Uiras by hitting her at least four times with an axe on her head on November 21, 2013 at Otjimbingwe in the Karibib district, causing her to die two days later on November 23, 2013 in Katutura Intermediate Hospital in Windhoek, according to the charges.
It is further alleged Uirab attempted to murder Lena Uiras by hitting him at least once on the head with the axe, and that he threatened to assault Lizette Uiras with the same axe.
According to the charge sheet, the accused and the deceased shared a residence and he provided financially for her and to the other complainants.
During the afternoon of the incident, the accused threatened to kill Lizette Uiras and other family members if they didn’t vacate the deceased’s residence, which they did but later returned, the indictment states.
During that evening and while the deceased was with her family at home, the accused arrived and had a short conversation with his mother, whereafter he hit her at least four times on the head with the axe, the indictment reads.
It says that after assaulting his mother, Uirab then turned on Lena Uiras and hit her once on the head and also chased Lizette Uiras, with the axe in his hand, threatening to kill her.
The deceased died because of head injuries caused by the assault.
During an earlier pre-trial appearance Uirab’s state-funded defence counsel, Titus Ipumbu, informed the court that his client cannot be held responsible for his actions, as he underwent psychiatric observation just two weeks before the incident.
Ipumbu said Uirab was diagnosed with substance abuse induced psychosis.
Deputy Prosecutor General Antonia Verhoef told Judge Liebenberg that Ipumbu did mention in his pre-trial answers that Uirab admitted committing the crimes but that he cannot be held responsible because of his mental condition.