The trial of siblings Azaan Madisia and Junior Mulundu, who are accused of murdering the young Shannon Wasserfall, is set to start in February next year.
High Court Judge Christie Liebenberg set the date of 6 February yesterday during a pre-trial appearance, in agreement with their Legal Aid lawyers Tanya Klazen and Albert Titus.
Deputy prosecutor general Antonia Verhoef represented the State during the hearing.
Madisia remains in custody at the Klein Windhoek police station, and Mulundu at the section for trial-awaiting inmates at the Windhoek Correctional facility.
The pair, who have been in custody since their arrest in 2020, face charges of murder, robbery with aggravating circumstances and defeating or attempting to defeat or obstruct the course of justice.
The siblings, who pleaded not guilty in the Walvis Bay Magistrate’s Court last year, are accused of murdering Wasserfall – a close friend of Madisia – in April 2020.
Madisia went on and reported Wasserfall missing, and allegedly also took part in some of the searches conducted to find her.
However, a text message sent to Wasserfall’s father that year led the police and investigators to the victim’s shallow grave close to the Dunes Mall.
The message was later traced back to Madisia, who was arrested in November 2020.
Mulundu handed himself over several months later to the police at the Narraville police station for his part in the crime, and was arrested.
He allegedly assisted his sister to dispose of the deceased’s body.
They are accused of murdering Wasserfall before burying her in a shallow grave at the town.
She was missing for almost six months last year.
Earlier police reports indicated that Wasserfall was on 10 April allegedly reported missing by Madisia, who was her close friend.
The discovery of her remains, however, led to Madisia’s arrest after police could positively place her at the murder scene. – rrouth@nepc.com.na