A former teacher who is accused of fatally stabbing his wife 12 times in front of their children, wants the Directorate of Legal Aid to pay for a private mental assessment.
Patrick Geingob is disputing the State’s mental report that declared him fit to stand trial, and wants a private psychiatrist to assess his mental stability. His legal aid lawyer Jermaine Muchali indicated to Windhoek High Court Judge Herman January that they do not accept the report by the State’s psychiatrist.
The accused was earlier referred for mental observation by Judge Christie Liebenberg, who presided over the pre-trial hearings after Muchali applied for the mental observation.
Geingob was, however, unable to undergo a second psychiatric evaluation. At the time, Liebenberg said only one report is available, and that the only available private psychiatrist indicated he would be conflicted if he were to do an assessment on the accused as he had previously made an assessment on him.
According to the available report, Geingob is mentally fit to stand trial. It is alleged by the State that the 38-year-old Geingob killed his wife Merentha Geingos in the kitchen of their marital home in Okuryangava by stabbing her with a knife 12 times in front of their children. Geingos died on 14 April 2019 in a Windhoek hospital, where she succumbed to her injuries upon arrival. During Geingob’s failed bail hearing, the court was informed that he arrived home late that night and had an argument with Geingos, which resulted in him stabbing her.
The tragic incident happened while the couple’s children were at home. In a post-mortem report that was submitted as part of the evidence in that failed bail application, it is recorded that Geingos was stabbed 12 times.
Two of the injuries she sustained – one stab wound to the abdomen and a deep stab wound to her right thigh – were potentially fatal, the report states.
He is facing a charge of murder, read with the provisions of the Combating of Domestic Violence Act, one count of defeating or obstructing the course of justice, one count of assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm, and one count of common assault. The matter was postponed to 28 February for a decision by Legal Aid.
The matter will be presided over by
Judge January, while the State will be represented by Seredine Jacobs.