Two men who were convicted of killing a truck driver after he gave them a lift and robbing him of more than 2 000 crates of beer are heading to the Supreme Court to appeal their conviction.

Simon Uwu-Khaeb (30) and Ricardo Hoaeb (27) yesterday succeeded in convincing High Court judge Marlene Tommasi to grant them leave to appeal. 

Uwu-Khaeb and Hoaeb were convicted by Tommasi in August last year, on charges of murder, robbery with aggravating circumstances, unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition, and defeating or obstructing the course of justice.

This was after the court dismissed their version of events surrounding the death of Johannes Unahani, on 22 May 2013.

Tommasi said the State proved beyond reasonable doubt that Uwu-Khaeb and Hoaeb were guilty of shooting and killing Unahani. 

According to the evidence presented during the trial, on 22 May 2013, The two were given a lift by Unahani who worked as a truck driver for Etosha Transport. 

Unahani was on his way to Outapi from Windhoek to deliver 2 040 crates of Tafel Lager beer.

The duo then hijacked the truck and in the process shot Unahani twice in the head with a 7.65 pistol, killing him. They dumped his body in the bushes in the vicinity of Guinas gravel road in the district of Tsumeb.

The duo drove away with the truck and its cargo consisting of 2 020 crates of beer with a value of N$291 388.84. 

Hoaeb sold the beer to a businessman in Okahandja for N$150 000, but offloaded it in Otjiwarongo where the business was. He used the money from the sale to purchase a vehicle which he later used in fleeing to South Africa through Botswana. 

Uwu-Khaeb and Hoaeb abandoned the truck near the gravel road between Khorixas and Uis.

Unahani’s body was discovered 11 days later.

Uwu-Khaeb was arrested shortly after the body of Unahani was found while Hoaeb was arrested in Upington, South Africa after being on the run for about five months.

During the trial, Uwu-Khaeb and Hoaeb denied all allegations levelled against them. 

 -mamakali@nepc.com.na