2015-04-15Staff Report 2 WINDHOEK - A man who stands accused of the murder of his girlfriend with an axe in the Tsaraxa-Aibes informal settlement in Otjiwarongo on February 28 was arrested on April 8 after he initially escaped from hospital. Sources informed New Era that Israel Kapepu, 39, was arrested last week on Wednesday evening in a shack in Tsara-Xaibes location in Otjiwarongo. He was allegedly hiding away in the shack. Kapepu was sentenced to 13 months in prison for escaping from custody, Warrant-Officer Maureen Mbeha from the Namibian Police Public Relations Department in the Otjozondjupa Region informed New Era on Sunday. Kapepu allegedly attempted to commit suicide on March 30 and was taken to hospital the same day, but on April 1 he bolted from hospital. He allegedly cut himself with a piece of blade “he claimed he picked up,” sources said. Kapepu appeared in the Otjiwarongo Magistrate’s Court on March 3 and was denied bail by magistrate Helvi Shilemba. He now faces a charge of murdering his girlfriend Christine Gases, 30. During his first appearance magistrate Shilemba informed Kapepu of his right either to apply for a state-funded lawyer through the Ministry of Justice’s legal aid directorate, engage a private lawyer of his choice or defend himself in court. Kapepu opted to apply for a state-funded lawyer. His case was then postponed to March 31 to allow him to submit a formal bail application, apply for a state-funded lawyer, and allow for further police investigations. In March Inspector Slogan Matheus from the Namibian Police Public Relations Department informed the media during the weekly crime briefing on Sunday that the two were drinking at Lineka Bar and then went home. A row allegedly erupted when Gases refused to cook a meal and wanted to return to the bar instead. Her boyfriend and father of her three minor children allegedly borrowed an axe from her brother and hit her on her head and back. 2015-04-15Staff Report 2
