Iuze Mukube
A Mariental resident last Monday pleaded not guilty to the murder of Eldin Sylwester Fransman by stabbing him in the neck with a knife or a sharp object.
The accused, Adam Isaack (29), tendered the plea of not guilty to the charges of murder and attempted robbery with aggravated circumstances in the Windhoek High Court.
The State alleges that on 8 June 2019, Isaack unlawfully and intentionally killed Fransman near Gibeon in the district of Mariental.
It further alleges that he unlawfully and with intent to force into submission assaulted Fransman and other complainants, Riaan Afrikaner, Josephina Afrikaner and Willem Josef Swartbooi, by encircling them with the help of other people to prevent them from escaping, thereby stabbing Fransman with a knife on his neck.
Isaack did so to steal from the group a five-litre box containing alcohol or wine, the state alleges.
The aggravating circumstance is that Isaack allegedly threatened to inflict grievous bodily harm on Fransman.
In his plea explanation, the accused denies killing the deceased.
He explained he only became aware of the area of the stab wound on the deceased’s body during a consultation with his legal practitioner.
Another individual by the name of Beneg Jossop was the stabber; he stabbed the deceased while it was dark, turned around and ran away, claimed Isaack.
Isaack further stated that Jossop also pointed out where he himself hid the knife, and the police retrieved it in the accused’s presence.
He said Jossop falsely and maliciously influenced other friends (witnesses), who were present that evening, to testify against him and falsely blame him for the crime committed.
“I am thus falsely implicated/framed for having committed the crime,” he said.
Additionally, Isaack stated that while he was on bail, Jossop approached and threatened him, demanding that he should plead guilty to the charges, or else “I would see what will happen to me.”
He stated that, “I am innocent and thus plead not guilty to the charge of murder.”
For the second count, he stated that it was Jossop who decided to rob the group of a five-litre box of alcohol.
“Jossop allegedly attempted to rob the group of their wine, which resulted in the stabbing indeed,” said Isaack.
Subsequently, Isaack said, he was falsely implicated and framed for the crime, and Jossop allegedly influenced other friends to make statements and testify against him.
State witness Beneg Jossop testified last week that it was not him who decided to rob the group of people but Isaack.
He stated that the knife used to stab the deceased belonged to him, but Isaack demanded the knife from him to use it to threaten the group and rob them of their wine.
Jossop stated he carried a knife with him because he is a meat lover or loves eating meat.
The witness also explained he gave the accused the knife because he was told it would just be used to threaten the group of people, not for stabbing.
Isaack is represented by Janita von Wielligh from Janita von Wielligh Law Chambers.
The State by advocate Emma Mayavero.