Windhoek
The family of 20-year-old Janet !Haoses who died under horrific circumstances allegedly at the hands of her boyfriend in Otjomuise want government to amend the constitution to bring back the death penalty.
A relative Claudia Namises, who attended the suspect David Soreseb’s first court appearance in Katutura yesterday, wants the death penalty to be brought back “because a woman or child is killed every day by men”.
But before Namises made her suggestion for the reintroduction of the death penalty a 33-year-old woman died Wednesday evening after she was hacked with an axe on the head, allegedly by her boyfriend in Grootfontein, in another case of savage domestic violence against a woman.
The incident occurred at approximately 20h00 in Blikkiesdorp informal settlement.
Namibian Police Force (NamPol) Otjozondjupa Regional Public Relations Officer, Warrant Officer Maureen Mbeha, yesterday confirmed the latest incident to Nampa. The deceased has been identified as Alexandrina Kashova Shikusho.
The suspect in the Otjomuise case, Soreseb, was denied bail and his case was postponed to September 26 for further investigation and to enable him to apply for legal aid, because of the seriousness of the charge.
Namises queried: “Until when will we ask for stiffer sentences? We really want our president to look into the constitution to be amended. We can’t be dying like flies. We can’t march to courts every day.” Namises also invited President Hage Geingob to attend court proceedings to see how devastating it is for the victim’s family.
However, Namises told Soreseb after court proceedings to pray to God as he has caused untold misery to the family – to which the suspect replied in the affirmative.
Soreseb appeared for murdering his girlfriend !Haoses who he had seemingly strangled with electric wire and stabbed several times with a knife. Soreseb had also tied the victim legs while committing these acts. It is further alleged !Haoses was bludgeoned with a hammer.
Another family member Elizabeth !Haoses-Gawanas stared at Soreseb being escorted away by the police after court proceedings and said she felt pity for him, despite the hideous crime he committed.
Nonetheless, !Haoses-Gawanas said the family didn’t want him to get bail. “He hurt us badly. Our hearts are broken.”
Only a handful of family members were present in court. The deceased’s mother, said to be devastated beyond measure, was also not in court.
Public Prosecutor Fillemon Nyau objected to bail being granted to Soreseb, stating that the charge is a serious offence and that the accused might not stand trial as he is suicidal.
He also said the State objects to bail because it is feared the accused might interfere with investigations and intimidate witnesses. It is also not in the interest of the public and administration of justice, Nyau added.
Nyau said the matter enjoyed media coverage hence the accused’s safety is also a concern to the State as community members might take the law into their own hands.
Nyau requested that as threats have been made against Soreseb, he be transferred from Katutura police holding cells to Hosea Kutako holding cells for his own safety.
Magistrate Michelle Bernedine Kubersky presided.