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Home / Accused killer says shotgun went off accidentally
Accused killer says shotgun went off accidentally
2015-04-30Staff Report 2 A Windhoek resident who allegedly killed his girlfriend with a shotgun blast to the face at the couple’s home told the Windhoek High Court yesterday that the gun accidentally went off. Gerhard Komeya, 45, also testified before Judge Naomi Shivute that he loves his young daughter very much and would do nothing to hurt her. One of the charges he is facing is attempted murder. The State alleges Komeya shot in the direction of his then two-year-old daughter, but luckily missed her. Komeya told the court he was at home on that fateful Saturday, September 10, 2011 at the place he co-habited with his now demised girlfriend. At around 10h00 he left to buy spare parts for his vehicle, but he could not find any and returned home, he narrated to the court. Komeya said that after he ate lunch he left again to take his vehicle to a mechanic who managed to fix the vehicle, whereafter he returned home. When he arrived at the house, he encountered the deceased, Maria Kerttu Tunondjambi Sheehama, who was busy taking laundry from the washing line. He said there was no quarrelling between them the entire.After he arrived at home, he went into the bedroom and freshened up as he intended to drive to the north, he said, adding that he then took his pistol and put it in his waistband. He also took his shotgun, wallet, cellphone and jacket which he carried in his hands. “I cannot remember in which hand I had the shotgun and in which hand I had the jacket, the phone and the wallet,” Komeya stated. He said while he was on his way out the deceased blocked his way and demanded to know why he wanted to return to the north since he only arrived from there recently. The next thing, he said, was that the deceased grabbed the shotgun from him. He then placed the cellphone and wallet in his trouser pocket and tried to take the shotgun from the deceased, Komeya said, adding that the deceased struggled with him for the firearm and a shot accidentally went off. “The sound was very loud and I was confused, not knowing whether anyone was hit,” he said. According to Komeya he then saw the deceased lying on the floor in a pool of blood and realised she was dead. In a confused state he went to the kitchen door, but returned shortly and went to stand next to the deceased, he said. He searched for his cellphone to call the police, but since he did not have the Namibian Police’s number on his phone he tried the City Police, but could not get through, and then called a police officer that he knew, he said. The police officer apparently told him not to move anything and to keep the door closed until the police arrived. Shortly thereafter the police arrived and he opened the door for them, he told the court. He said he was then arrested and taken to the Wanaheda Police Station where he was locked up. Asked about the evidence of the deceased’s sister, Rebekka Sheehama, who testified Komeya shot the deceased in cold blood, he said: “I think she has bitterness in her heart, that’s why she is telling all these lies about me.” Komeya faces a charge of murder, read with the provisions of the Combating of Domestic Violence Act, alternatively negligent discharge or handling of a firearm, read with the provisions of the Combating of Domestic Violence Act. Other charges are pointing of a firearm, malicious damage to property, read with the provisions of the Combating of Domestic Violence Act and defeating or obstructing or attempting to defeat or obstruct the course of justice. The case continues with Komeya under cross-examination by State Advocate Cliff Lutibezi. Komeya is represented by Monty Karuaihe on instruction from the Directorate of Legal Aid. 2015-04-30Staff Report 2
