WINDHOEK - DNA expert, Maryn Swart, yesterday revealed to Judge Naomi Shivute in the Windhoek Court the DNA she found on the knife that ended the life of Getrud Vaanda Tjihuiko was predominantly hers with the accused in the matter, Elvis Mieze, 44 contributing only a minimal portion.
Swart was testifying in the trial of Mieze who is accused of killing Tjihuiko, his live-in girlfriend with a single stab to the heart during September 23 to 30, 2016 in Herero settlement in Windhoek and hid the body in his shack for several days.
Mieze denied guilt on the charges at the start of his trial last week and made use of his right to remain silent and put the burden on the State to prove each and every allegation against him.
It however emerged through cross-examination of State witnesses that Mieze is claiming the deceased stab herself in the heart when she fell onto a knife she had in her hands during a quarrel between them.
According to Engelbrecht, his client claims that during the morning of September 28, 2016 he and the deceased were quarrelling when she grabbed a knife with which she wanted to stab him. In an effort to defend himself he pushed the deceased away and she fell onto the knife onto the bed and in the process stabbed herself.
The body was discovered the next day, he said. According to him Mieze denies he hid the body in the shack for several days as is alleged by the State resulting in the defeating or obstructing the course of justice allegation.
Engelbrecht already got the doctor who conducted the autopsy on the body of the deceased to concede that the body could have been in the shack for less than the 4 days she initially estimated.
Swart testified yesterday the blood found on the blade of the knife was an exact match for the deceased and that she was the major contributor to epithelial cells found on the blade of the knife indicating that she handled the knife often. During cross-examination, Swart conceded it was possible that Tjihuiko could have been the one holding the knife when the incident occurred. She further conceded that the deceased could have been the one to stab herself with the knife given the high quality of her DNA found on the knife.
The trial was postponed to April next year and is set to resume on April 2 to April 5 and again from April 16 to 18 next year as neither the court or the lawyers has openings in their diaries for this year. Mieze remains in custody at the Windhoek Correctional Facility’s section for trial awaiting inmates. Deputy Prosecutor General Karin Esterhuizen is appearing on behalf of the State.