Man who killed lover in full view of children found guilty
Self-defence argument fails
In 2021, two minor children watched their mother's partner stab her to death with a knife as she cried out for help.
They saw Ndapandula Ndinelago’s partner sitting on top of her, as he attacked her with a kitchen knife.
She was stabbed 16 times and died soon thereafter due to blood loss.
Ndinelago’s children were nine and 14 years old at the time of her death on 25 December 2021, at the Mix informal settlement in Windhoek.
Henock Negodhi (44) was found guilty of murder in the High Court in Windhoek on Friday.
Both Ndinelago's children, one of whom is Negodhi's biological child, testified during the trial.
They said they woke up at around 02h00 and heard their mother yelling, “Help me! He is killing me!”
Self-defence
Negodhi and Ndinelago were in a relationship for 13 years and although Negodhi admitted that he stabbed her with the knife, he argued that it was in self-defence during a domestic altercation.
He testified during the trial that Ndinelago took a knife from under a pillow on the bed and attacked him with it.
He further argued that he took the knife from her after a struggle. He said he had no intention of killing her.
However, judge Herman January found in his judgement that Negodhi had planned the attack.
January’s ruling referred to the testimony of one of the children, who reportedly saw Negodhi put the knife under the pillow hours before the murder.
"He planned it and executed his plan. He hit her in a fit of rage... He had a deliberate intention," reads the verdict.
January also referred to the testimony of the doctor who performed the post-mortem examination.
She found that Ndinelago had defensive wounds on her hands and arms that proved she tried to fight back.
Negodhi also admitted that he went to nearby woods after the incident and slept there that night.
"The accused left the scene without helping the deceased," emphasised January in his judgement.
Ndinelago had knife wounds on her neck, chest and torso, which hit her heart, lungs and liver, testified the doctor.
The doctor further testified that Ndinelago’s organs were white, which is an indication that she bled to death very quickly and died due to blood loss.
Witnesses
Several residents of the Mix informal settlement were state witnesses during the trial.
Ndinelago's neighbour testified that the children came to call her. She apparently peeked into the couple's bedroom through a slot in the house and saw Ndinelago's body lying on the bed.
Another resident testified that she saw Negodhi take off his shirt and wipe his bloody hands with it.
Next Appearance
Negodhi's legal representative Mbanga Siyomunji recused himself from the case after the state closed its case.
This was reportedly based on conflicting instructions.
Negodhi has been without legal representation since then.
He is due to appear in court again on 2 December to argue for the mitigation of his sentence, while the state will present arguments in support of a harsher sentence.
The public prosecutor has already indicated that they intend to call one witness during these proceedings.
– [email protected]
They saw Ndapandula Ndinelago’s partner sitting on top of her, as he attacked her with a kitchen knife.
She was stabbed 16 times and died soon thereafter due to blood loss.
Ndinelago’s children were nine and 14 years old at the time of her death on 25 December 2021, at the Mix informal settlement in Windhoek.
Henock Negodhi (44) was found guilty of murder in the High Court in Windhoek on Friday.
Both Ndinelago's children, one of whom is Negodhi's biological child, testified during the trial.
They said they woke up at around 02h00 and heard their mother yelling, “Help me! He is killing me!”
Self-defence
Negodhi and Ndinelago were in a relationship for 13 years and although Negodhi admitted that he stabbed her with the knife, he argued that it was in self-defence during a domestic altercation.
He testified during the trial that Ndinelago took a knife from under a pillow on the bed and attacked him with it.
He further argued that he took the knife from her after a struggle. He said he had no intention of killing her.
However, judge Herman January found in his judgement that Negodhi had planned the attack.
January’s ruling referred to the testimony of one of the children, who reportedly saw Negodhi put the knife under the pillow hours before the murder.
"He planned it and executed his plan. He hit her in a fit of rage... He had a deliberate intention," reads the verdict.
January also referred to the testimony of the doctor who performed the post-mortem examination.
She found that Ndinelago had defensive wounds on her hands and arms that proved she tried to fight back.
Negodhi also admitted that he went to nearby woods after the incident and slept there that night.
"The accused left the scene without helping the deceased," emphasised January in his judgement.
Ndinelago had knife wounds on her neck, chest and torso, which hit her heart, lungs and liver, testified the doctor.
The doctor further testified that Ndinelago’s organs were white, which is an indication that she bled to death very quickly and died due to blood loss.
Witnesses
Several residents of the Mix informal settlement were state witnesses during the trial.
Ndinelago's neighbour testified that the children came to call her. She apparently peeked into the couple's bedroom through a slot in the house and saw Ndinelago's body lying on the bed.
Another resident testified that she saw Negodhi take off his shirt and wipe his bloody hands with it.
Next Appearance
Negodhi's legal representative Mbanga Siyomunji recused himself from the case after the state closed its case.
This was reportedly based on conflicting instructions.
Negodhi has been without legal representation since then.
He is due to appear in court again on 2 December to argue for the mitigation of his sentence, while the state will present arguments in support of a harsher sentence.
The public prosecutor has already indicated that they intend to call one witness during these proceedings.
– [email protected]
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