Gym instructor accused of murdering girlfriend seeks bail
Witnesses recount night of murder
The bail application hearing of Tjizake Murangi (22) continued on Monday and resumes today at the Windhoek Magistrate's Court.
The two-day bail hearing of Tjizake Murangi (22), a fitness instructor accused of murdering his partner Frieda Amadhila (29) by stabbing her eight times in April this year, concluded on Monday and resumes today at the Windhoek Magistrate’s Court for final submissions before a verdict is issued.
The hearing, which began on 6 December, included testimony from Frieda’s sister, Elina, and Amadhila's neighbour, Amo Steyn, who called the police after Murangi allegedly ran to his apartment seeking assistance following the attack.
During Monday's proceedings, Joseph Sakaria, an investigating officer with the Namibian Police's Serious Crime Unit, testified before Magistrate Monica Andjamba.
Sakaria told the court that the police investigation revealed Murangi allegedly forced his way into Amadhila's flat on the night of 8 April, using an iron bar.
Last Friday, Murangi, who has been charged with murder, testified that he broke into the flat to retrieve his phone, which he claimed Amadhila had locked inside with her.
The State, represented by public prosecutor Eric Naikaku, alleges that Murangi visited Amadhila’s apartment earlier that day but was refused entry.
He reportedly returned later that night, allegedly jumping over the boundary gate to gain access after she refused to open it for him.
Murangi is represented by legal aid lawyer Milton Engelbrecht.
Fateful night
Sakaria testified that the postmortem report suggests she put up a fight but was eventually overpowered.
“The extent of the injuries leads me to believe that Murangi used extreme force on Frieda, as he fractured the bones protecting her vital chest organs, ultimately injuring her heart,” he testified, adding that Murangi used a knife to attack Amadhila.
After realising the severity of Amadhila's condition following the attack, Murangi ran to Frieda’s next-door neighbour, Steyn, to seek assistance.
Steyn testified that Murangi frantically knocked on his door, and when he opened it, he initially mistook him for an intruder from outside the complex.
“He knocked, and when I opened, he first said there was a fight and he needed help. I looked at him confused, and then he clarified, 'Frieda is hurt. She is on the ground and she is not moving. I need help.' I closed my door and immediately called the police," Steyn informed the court.
Shortly afterwards, Murangi allegedly walked toward the gate, summoned someone and returned to Frieda’s flat.
“I watched him from inside my flat. He went back to Frieda’s flat for about five to ten minutes, and then I saw him get into Frieda’s car and speed off. A few minutes later, City Police arrived,” Steyn testified.
Murangi reportedly drove Amadhila to Windhoek Central Hospital, where he was told to take her to Katutura Hospital instead.
When accused of stealing Amadhila's car by the State, Murangi denied the claim, saying she had asked him to drive her to hospital in her car.
Amadhila was declared dead on arrival by medical staff at Katutura State Hospital.
The hearing, which began on 6 December, included testimony from Frieda’s sister, Elina, and Amadhila's neighbour, Amo Steyn, who called the police after Murangi allegedly ran to his apartment seeking assistance following the attack.
During Monday's proceedings, Joseph Sakaria, an investigating officer with the Namibian Police's Serious Crime Unit, testified before Magistrate Monica Andjamba.
Sakaria told the court that the police investigation revealed Murangi allegedly forced his way into Amadhila's flat on the night of 8 April, using an iron bar.
Last Friday, Murangi, who has been charged with murder, testified that he broke into the flat to retrieve his phone, which he claimed Amadhila had locked inside with her.
The State, represented by public prosecutor Eric Naikaku, alleges that Murangi visited Amadhila’s apartment earlier that day but was refused entry.
He reportedly returned later that night, allegedly jumping over the boundary gate to gain access after she refused to open it for him.
Murangi is represented by legal aid lawyer Milton Engelbrecht.
Fateful night
Sakaria testified that the postmortem report suggests she put up a fight but was eventually overpowered.
“The extent of the injuries leads me to believe that Murangi used extreme force on Frieda, as he fractured the bones protecting her vital chest organs, ultimately injuring her heart,” he testified, adding that Murangi used a knife to attack Amadhila.
After realising the severity of Amadhila's condition following the attack, Murangi ran to Frieda’s next-door neighbour, Steyn, to seek assistance.
Steyn testified that Murangi frantically knocked on his door, and when he opened it, he initially mistook him for an intruder from outside the complex.
“He knocked, and when I opened, he first said there was a fight and he needed help. I looked at him confused, and then he clarified, 'Frieda is hurt. She is on the ground and she is not moving. I need help.' I closed my door and immediately called the police," Steyn informed the court.
Shortly afterwards, Murangi allegedly walked toward the gate, summoned someone and returned to Frieda’s flat.
“I watched him from inside my flat. He went back to Frieda’s flat for about five to ten minutes, and then I saw him get into Frieda’s car and speed off. A few minutes later, City Police arrived,” Steyn testified.
Murangi reportedly drove Amadhila to Windhoek Central Hospital, where he was told to take her to Katutura Hospital instead.
When accused of stealing Amadhila's car by the State, Murangi denied the claim, saying she had asked him to drive her to hospital in her car.
Amadhila was declared dead on arrival by medical staff at Katutura State Hospital.
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