Maria Amakali
A young woman, accused of killing her 70-year-old lover by stabbing him multiple times with a kitchen knife, will get new dates for her trial hearing. Magistrate Mehluli Nyazo postponed the case of Victoria Gorases (25) to 23 May for allocation of new trial dates and to allow Gorases’ new lawyer Mbanga Siyomunji to obtain disclosure and consult her.
The court noted there was an application to challenge the findings of the psychiatric evaluation. “The matter is remanded to 23 May for fixing of the trial date and also to give Mr Siyomunji enough time to consult his client and decide whether they are going to challenge the report,” said Nyazo.
Earlier this year, Gorases, with the assistance of her previous lawyer Tuna Nhinda, filed an application disputing the findings of a second psychiatric report, which concluded Gorases is mentally fit and capable of understanding court proceedings.
Gorases was firstly evaluated in June 2018, with Dr Lahja Hamunyela, a psychiatrist at Windhoek Central Hospital, concluding although Gorases suffers from bipolar type one disorder and is on medication, she is mentally fit to be tried for her alleged crime.
Hamunyela also indicated Gorases was able to recount past events and did not show any signs of speech coherent or any signs of pathology.
We did not even observe any abnormalities. She is facing a charge of murder for the death of her boyfriend Sakava Nathame, who died on 25 February 2018 from multiple stab wounds inflicted all over his body.
Despite denying guilt, in her psychiatric sessions, she informed Hamunyela that on the date in question, she and the victim had an argument. The victim was allegedly accusing Gorases of being unfaithful in the relationship.
The argument allegedly got heated, and Gorases grabbed the knife and stabbed the victim multiple times with it. Gorases allegedly recalled their son found her on top of the victim. She has been in custody since her arrest on that day.
– mamakali@nepc.com.na