WINDHOEK – The murder and rape trial of the man who is believed to have terrorised women in the sleepy town of Outjo during 2012 will start on Thursday this week.
Judge Nate Ndauendapo yesterday postponed the trial of Johannes Lukuwa Hausiku in the High Court in Windhoek.
The trial was initially set down for October 27 to November 21, but Hausiku’s state-funded lawyer, Christian Nambahu, indicated to the court he is involved in another matter defending a client and requested the postponement.
State Advocate Ethel Ndlovu did not object to the postponement, which was granted by the court.
Hausiku faces one count of murder, two counts of kidnapping, two counts of attempted rape, one count of defeating or obstructing or attempting to defeat or obstruct the course of justice, one count of robbery and eight counts of rape.
In the indictment it is alleged he followed a woman who was on her way home from a shebeen during the early hours of January 28, 2012, grabbed her around her throat, hit her on her head and tied her mouth with a piece of clothing.
He allegedly twisted her arm and pulled her into some bushes where he brutally raped her six times.
Hausiku also threatened to kill the woman and robbed her of her cellphone whereafter he released her.
The next evening Hausiku allegedly accused another woman of stealing his money and asked her to accompany him to the residence of a witness to sort out the issue.
On the way there he grabbed the complainant’s arm and dragged her into some bushes where he tried to rape her.
She was rescued by someone who heard her screams.
It alleged that Hausiku also threatened to kill the complainant.
According to the indictment Hausiku raped another woman on May 30, 2012 and killed her two-year-old son.
It is stated the complainant took her son with her when she visited some shebeens in Outjo where she encountered Hausiku who bought her some liquor.
When the complainant became very drunk she and the deceased left the last shebeen she visited on foot and while on her way Hausiku kidnapped her.
It is alleged Hausiku killed the deceased by stabbing him with a knife and/or hitting him with a blunt object on the head.
The deceased died as a result of blunt impact head trauma caused by the assault on him.
It is further alleged he then raped the complainant twice and attempted to rape her a third time.
It is also said the last complainant was so drunk that she could not remember what happened after she and the deceased left the last shebeen, until she woke up the next morning next to the accused who told her that he rescued her from four men who killed the deceased and who wanted to kill her too.
He then proceeded to rape her again the indictment reads.
They then went to the Outjo Police Station where Hausiku informed the police as well and also made a false statement to the police with the intention to obstruct the course of justice, according to the indictment.