The trial of the biological mother of a nine-year-old girl who was killed and her body burned allegedly by her and two co-accused, was transferred to the High Court by magistrate Dawid Mukuyu on Tuesday.
The prosecutor general indicated that Rachel Kureva (40) must face charges of murder, read with the provisions of the Combating of Domestic Violence Act, defeating the course of justice and violating a dead body.
She will make a first pre-trial appearance in the High Court on 16 February.
The magistrate further ordered Kureva to be held at the section for trial-awaiting inmates pending her trial.
She was free after the prosecutor general declined to prosecute her in January last year, when she decided to arraign Edward Nkata (39) and Caroline Nkata (38) in the High Court.
She was later re-arrested after the 14-year-old son of the Nkatas, who are accused with her of the brutal murder of Akundaishe Natalie Chipomho made a statement to the police that also implicates her.
She was arrested in early January and made a first appearance in the Windhoek Magistrate’s Court, where her trial was postponed for the prosecutor general’s decision by magistrate Kandiwapa Nembia.
The High Court trial was ready to start with only the Nkatas until advocate Ethel Ndlovu brought an application for a postponement of the trial as the State wants to join Kureva to the matter.
Kureva, who was previously represented by Mbanga Siyomunji, on Legal Aid instructions, indicated that she applied for legal aid and is waiting for a response.
The Nkatas will face two additional charges of attempted murder, fraud, alternatively uttering a forged document, forgery and contravening the Immigration Control Act.
It is alleged that the accused assaulted the nine-year-old Chipomho to death, burnt her body and dumped the remains in a rubbish bin in Windhoek North between 23 and 25 January 2020.
The Nkatas are also charged with attempting to kill Edward’s then 11-year-old son by hitting him with a belt and unknown object all over his body between 20 and 22 January 2020. However, he survived the ordeal.
On the charge of obstructing the course of justice, the State is alleging the couple removed Chipomho’s body from their home, dumped it in a municipal skip and set it alight, in an attempt to evade prosecution.
The indictment further indicates the accused defrauded Progress Private School of N$6 000. It is alleged Caroline indicated to the school where she was employed as a teacher that Chipomho and an 11-year-old minor were her biological children. Thus, the minor children were not required to pay school fees by virtue of her being an employee at the school.
The couple is also accused of forging school reports for the children.
The State is further accusing the Nkatas of overstaying in the country for seven months after their employment permits expired.
During the accused’s first appearance in court, Caroline, who admitted guilt, confessed her husband (Edward) beat Chipomho.
She was allegedly home when the victim was being beaten. After the assault, her husband forced her to help him dispose of the girl’s body in a rubbish skip. It was her testimony that he further forced her to accompany him to buy paraffin, dispose of the body and set it alight.
The Nkatas were spotted dragging a wheelie bin in the eastern direction of Ooievaar Street in the Rhino Park area around 21h00, and a witness felt it was suspicious because it was at night.
The couple was caught on a surveillance camera in the area.
Caroline is represented by Milton Engelbrecht and Edward by Siyomunji.