WINDHOEK – Charles Michael Swartz (20) who killed his pregnant girlfriend last Thursday made a second pre-trial appearance before Judge President Petrus Damaseb yesterday.
Mbanga Siyomunji has been appointed by the Directorate of Legal Aid to represent the youngster who was only 19 years old when he committed the alleged crime. The Judge President postponed the matter to the next pre-trial date, which is February 20 for Siyomunji to reply to the State’s pre-trial memoranda. Siyomunji informed the Judge President that he could not locate his client for consultation since it was not indicated on the legal aid instructions where he was held, but will now do so and reply to the State before the next court date. According to the charge sheet Swartz killed his girlfriend, Sara van der Westhuizen, a minor, who at the time was pregnant with his child on October 03, 2012 in Mariental. He further faces a charge of assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm in that during September 2012 he allegedly assaulted the deceased on diverse occasions by kicking her several times and beating her with steel wire on the back.
Swartz is also charged with assault by threat. It is alleged that on October 03, 2012 he threatened Anna Maria Baisako saying he would kill her. According to the summary of substantial facts in the indictment Swartz was warned by Constable Sylvanus Umati to stop assaulting the deceased on the day of the murder. That evening he allegedly went to the parental home of the deceased and called her out. When she joined him, he stabbed her at least six times before she managed to run into the safety of the house, but he still pursued her inside. When the deceased tried to hide behind Baisako, Swartz allegedly threatened to kill her and then stabbed the deceased once more in the neck. Van der Westhuizen died as a result of multiple stab wounds to her neck and chest. Swartz remains in custody in the Windhoek Police Station holding cells.
By Roland Routh