Iuze Mukube 

The State has called for a harsher sentence for John Kangumbe Mutirua (24), arguing that violent crimes such as murder and rape have reached “pandemic levels” in Namibia. 

Advocate Maria Shilongo made the submissions in aggravation of sentence before Acting Judge Makapa Simasiku. 

Mutirua has been convicted on multiple charges, including two counts of murder with direct intent, two counts of attempted murder, robbery with aggravating circumstances, attempting to defeat or obstruct the course of justice, two counts of rape and one count of attempted rape. 

The convictions relate to the murders of Albertus Maasdorp and Meno Tjizera, attempted murders of Sililika Witbeen and Ishmael Xhao, as well as the rape of a nine-year-old girl. The offences were committed between 2018 and 2023. Shilongo urged the court to take a firm stance against violent crime, describing the situation as an “unprecedented, uncontrollable and unacceptable wave” of violence. 

“The courts, as custodians of the law, must act decisively when such conduct threatens the fabric of society, lest the public lose faith in the justice system,” she argued. 

She called for life imprisonment on each count of murder, five years for robbery, three years for defeating the course of justice, and four years for each count of attempted murder. 

On the rape charges, Shilongo requested 15-year custodial sentences for each count, including the attempted rape. 

She rejected the defence’s proposal of wholly suspended five-year sentences on the rape counts, arguing that such punishment would send the wrong message. 

“That would be akin to patting someone on the shoulder for wrongdoing,” she said. 

Shilongo told the court that the accused lured the nine-year-old complainant and her friends to a secluded area, restrained them and raped the child multiple times. She further alleged that he forced a seven-year-old boy to rape the victim. 

Even after the child attempted to escape, the accused chased and assaulted her again in the presence of her friends, the court heard. 

Regarding the murder charges, Shilongo argued that the victims were unarmed and posed no threat.“In both instances, the accused attacked with a knife aimed at the chest. The force used caused immediate death,” she said. 

Tjizera was allegedly stabbed in the head or neck before being fatally stabbed in the chest in October 2020 at Epako near Gobabis. On the same night, the accused allegedly attacked Xhao, stabbing him in the head. 

While out on bail in July 2023, Mutirua allegedly robbed Maasdorp in broad daylight before later tracking him down and fatally stabbing him. 

Earlier that day, he allegedly stabbed Maasdorp’s neighbour, Witbeen, twice in the chest. Shilongo argued that the accused has shown a clear pattern of violent behaviour. 

“He has repeatedly been given opportunities to reform, yet continues to commit increasingly serious offences with intent and boldness,” she said. 

“This cannot be tolerated. Society is being reduced to senseless killings of innocent people.” She added that lenient sentences risk encouraging further violent crime. 

Mutirua is represented by Ileni Velikoshi under Legal Aid. 

–mukubeiuze@gmail.com