Two State witnesses testified yesterday that they saw John Kangumbe Mutirua (23) with the bloody knife that he used in one of the murders.

He is accused of two counts of murder, two counts of attempted murder and one count of robbery with aggravating circumstances.

Additional charges are one count of defeating or attempting to defeat or obstruct the course of justice, one count of abduction alternatively kidnapping, two counts of kidnapping and five counts of rape.

With regards to the murder of Albert (Michael) Maasdorp on 16 July 2023 at Epako in the Gobabis district, the witnesses are Obed (Steven) Mujari and Regina Ganes.

They said they were home on 16 July 2023 when they heard a knock on their door. 

When they opened the door, the Mutirua was standing at the door, holding a bloody knife. 

He told the witnesses that he had just stabbed Michael to death. 

The witnesses said the accused looked afraid and shocked.

Mujari testified that the next morning he left for work, leaving the accused behind.

He later learnt that the accused had handed himself over to the police. 

Mutirua further faces a charge of attempted murder.

 On the same day, he attempted to kill Silika Witbeen by stabbing him in the shoulder. 

The robbery charge relates to an incident where he allegedly forcefully took N$1 300 from Maasdorp. 

The defeating charge is in relation to Mutirua allegedly disposing of the knife he used to stab Maasdorp and Witbeen. 

The second murder charge is for the alleged murder of Meno Tjizera (19) with a knife between 30-31 October 2020. 

The second attempted murder charge is for allegedly stabbing Ishmael Xhao on the head with the intention to kill him. 

The other charge is that he abducted a nine-year-old girl. 

Mutirua allegedly tied her up and raped her four times.

He caused another eight-year-old boy to have intercourse with the nine-year-old girl under coercive circumstances on 23 September 2018 when he was just 17 years old.

Mutirua denied all the charges.

He informed the Windhoek High Court Acting Judge Makapa Simasiku through his Legal Aid instructed lawyer Ileni Velikoshi that he admits to stabbing Maasdorp but did not intend to cause his death. 

Mutirua said the victim charged at him with his hand in his pocket when he confronted him about stolen blankets.

He said he thought Maasdorp was going to withdraw a weapon.

Out of fear, he stabbed Maasdorp once in the chest. 

State Advocate Maria Shilongo is prosecuting.

 Mutirua remains in custody.