A 27-year-old man, accused of kidnapping, raping and strangling a 27-year-old woman to death, is yet to get a lawyer to represent him for his trial.

Abel Mokalabatho informed High Court Judge Christie Liebenberg that the Directorate of Legal Aid is yet to appoint a lawyer for his case.

“I have applied, but I am yet to receive any response from legal aid on the status of my application,” explained Makalabatho.

Makalabatho was left without a legal representation after his legal aid appointed lawyer Joseph Andreas withdrew his services last month. 

At the time, Andreas informed the court that while perusing the disclosure from the State, he discovered that two of the State witnesses are his good friends. 

Thus, he is conflicted and would not be in the position to represent Mokalabatho during his trial. 

The prosecution is charging Makalabatho on counts of rape, kidnapping, murder and obstructing the course of justice. 

The prosecution is alleging that on 1 and 2 August 2020, the accused and the victim were drinking together at a shebeen at Drimiopsis in the Gobabis district. 

It is alleged that when the victim left to go and use the toilet, Mokalabatho followed her and raped her. 

He then forcefully took her to his house, where he committed the second and third counts of rape. 

The State indicates that the victim was intoxicated, rendering her incapable of communicating her unwillingness. 

On the count of murder, Mokalabatho stabbed the victim with a knife on her neck and strangled her to death with a piece of wire. 

To cover up his alleged deed, he buried the victim in a manhole, cleaned his bedroom with a mop to remove the victim’s blood, and buried the knife underneath some plants. 

Furthermore, he informed the police that the victim left for a farm in the company of an unknown man after they had consensual sex in the toilet. 

During his plea in the Gobabis Magistrate’s Court, Mokalabatho told the court that the following day after he had forcefully taken the victim to his house and raped her, she had threatened to report him to her mother about the incident. 

As a result, he stabbed her with a knife in the neck, then strangled her to death with a wire. 

He then allegedly dumped the victim’s body in a manhole, a distance away from his bedroom.

Makalabatho is currently detained at Windhoek Correctional Facility at the trial awaiting section. 

He is due to appear in court on 18 August after his case was postponed for legal aid.

mamakali@nepc.com.na