Robert Marlo McNab (39), who allegedly murdered his estranged wife by stabbing her at least 27 times with a pair of scissors, made his first appearance before Deputy Judge President Shafimana Ueitele in the Windhoek High Court yesterday.
McNab faces charges of housebreaking with intent to murder, and murder, read with the provisions of the Combating of Domestic Violence Act. The State alleges that he unlawfully entered the flat rented by his wife, Helen Onesmus, with the intent to kill her, and subsequently murdered her.
According to the indictment, although the couple were still legally married at the time of the incident, divorce proceedings had already been instituted and McNab had moved out of the flat in Rocky Crest where the deceased was living. The deputy sheriff for Usakos served McNab with the summons and particulars of claim relating to the divorce proceedings on Wednesday, 14 February 2024.
Two days later, on Friday 16 February, the accused allegedly travelled from Usakos to Windhoek, accessed the garage at the deceased’s residence, and hid there waiting for her return from work.
The State further claims that when the deceased arrived home, she shared a meal with her son. When the son went to his bedroom, McNab allegedly attacked her, stabbing and/or cutting her face, neck, and body at least 27 times with a knife and a pair of scissors. She died on the scene from stab wounds to the chest.
Deputy Prosecutor General Antonia Verhoef informed the court that she had handed the case discovery to Milton Engelbrecht, McNab’s Legal Aid-instructed lawyer. His stand-in, Strauss, confirmed receipt and told the court that a response to the State’s pre-trial memorandum would be submitted shortly.
Judge Ueitele postponed the matter to 20 August 2025, and McNab will remain in custody in the trial-awaiting section at the Windhoek Correctional Facility. –rrouth@nepc.com.na