WINDHOEK – The bail hearing of a man who stands accused of shooting his girlfriend and mother to his children to death at their shared apartment could not proceed as scheduled yesterday.
This came to light when murder accused Erastus Heita, 42, made a brief appearance in Katutura. According to the prosecution Heita’s hearing cannot proceed as the prosecuting officer handling the case is currently on sick leave. The court postponed the matter to be heard today for the state’s case.
Heita has been in court in the previous weeks trying to convince the court to grant him bail after having spent almost a year in police custody.
The father of four is facing a charge of murder read with the provisions of the Combating of Domestic Violence Act of 2003 in connection to the murder of his 29-year-old girlfriend Maria Megameno Kamati. Kamati was shot in the head on October 02, 2017 in 7de Laan in Windhoek’s Otjomuise residential area at their shared rented apartment.
Heita has denied guilt when he took the witness stand at the start of his formal bail application hearing. In his defence, the mother to his two children was accidentally shot at the time when he was trying to shoot an intruder who emerged from their bedroom closet on that fateful night.
He claims Kamati’s death has left him traumatised. “I have given my life to the Lord to help me accept what has happened,” said Heita.
According to Heita, he needs to be released on bail so that he can look after his children. During his testimony, he explained his incarceration which started the day when he handed himself over to the police has affected his children to a point where they have not been performing optimally in school.
The State still stands its grounds on objecting bail. According to the state, Heita is facing a serious offence and if convicted he is likely facing a lengthy jail sentence thus, if released on bail he will abscond. Furthermore, it will not be in the interest of the public nor administration of justice if Heita is released on bail. Heita is being represented by defence attorney Kadhila Amoomo with Arie Hussleman prosecuting for the State.