WINDHOEK – Former police officer, Gerhard Komeya, who is accused of killing his prison warden girlfriend, 42-year-old Maria Kerttu Tunondjambi Sheehama, at the couple’s home in the Havana residential area of Windhoek during September 2011, wants to conduct his own defence.
Komeya told Judge President Petrus Damaseb that he is fed up with lawyers appointed by the State “dodging him all the time”. He asked the Judge President if he could defend himself, to which Damaseb answered: “It is possible, but not advisable.”
According to Komeya both State appointed lawyers he had so far did not come to consult him in prison. Komeya’s trial was scheduled to start on July 15 this year, but his State appointed lawyer, Mese Tjituri, withdrew at the last minute citing some material misunderstanding on “crucial evidence contained in the charge sheet”. Tjituri then told Judge Nate Ndauendapo that he could not continue to defend Komeya. This resulted in the judge placing Komeya’s case back on the pre-trial roster for a new lawyer to be appointed, as well as for a new trial date and/or judge to be appointed.
Komeya is charged with the murder of 42-year-old Maria Kerttu Tunondjambi Sheehama read with the provisions of the Combating of Domestic Violence Act, alternatively negligent discharge or handling of a firearm, pointing of a firearm, malicious damage to property and defeating or obstructing or attempting to defeat or obstruct the course of justice. It is alleged that Komeya unlawfully and intentionally killed Sheehama at the couple’s home in Windhoek’s Havana residential area. According to the charge sheet, Komeya on Saturday, September 10, 2011, broke, destroyed or damaged a cellphone belonging to the deceased at Erf 594, Omutula Street, whereafter he announced that he would kill her and their children. It is alleged that he then called them all together and fired shots with his licensed shotgun in their direction. It is further alleged that the deceased was struck in the face and that she died on the scene due to the gunshot injuries she sustained. His 2-year-old daughter Lucia Shekupe Komeya was also injured in the attack, but fortunately sustained only minor injuries.
It is further alleged that the accused reloaded his shotgun and pointed it at Rebekka Sheehama, the sister of the deceased, who managed to flee the scene unharmed. According to the charge sheet, Komeya then locked himself in the house until the police arrived at the scene and ordered him to open the door after which he was arrested. It is also alleged that the accused removed, destroyed or otherwise disposed of one or more spent shotgun cartridges or attempted to do so in order to frustrate or interfere with a police investigation into the death of the deceased and injuries to the child.
Komeya remains in custody at the Windhoek Prison holding cells for trial-awaiting prisoners. Judge President Damaseb ordered the registrar to enquire about Komeya’s latest legal aid application and postponed the matter to November 14 this year.
By Roland Routh