Möller’s widow wants life in jail for killers
Carol-Ann Möller, the widow of slain Walvis Bay resident Hans-Jörg Möller (50) who was fatally shot in his home at the harbour town in June 2016, has asked the court to give her husband's killers multiple life sentences.
The widow and her two minor daughters took to the witness stand yesterday to testify in aggravation of the sentences of four men who were found guilty of a robbery during which Möller was shot and killed.
One of the daughters narrated how her father’s killing affected her schooling."In the beginning, it was difficult to attend school and pay attention in class, but with the support of my teachers, my mother and my sister, I decided I was going to do it for my father. Since then, I have performed well academically, but my father will never be able to see it," she said.
Carol-Ann testified: "I think they should get a life sentence for the life they took from him. They should get another life sentence for the life they took from me - they stole my health from me and I can’t live properly. And they should get a life sentence for the life they took from my children.
“They followed us, they knew there were children. They planned to kill me too, so they planned to make my children orphans."
They testified before Judge Dinah Uusiku.
"No one sees my children cry. Instead of them being able to celebrate events like Father's Day, they have to go to a grave," she said.
Carol-Ann testified that she suffered neurological damage in the attack and that she now suffers from fatigue due to her condition. “Sometimes it hurts so much I can't walk.”
May take revenge
Carol-Ann said the four men found guilty of the crime - Gottlieb Panduleni, David Tashiya, David Shekudja and Elly Hinaivali - may try to take revenge on her and her children if released after serving their sentences.
She maintained during her testimony that the fifth accused who was acquitted, Malakia Shiweda, was present during the incident and that the other four were guilty of obstruction of justice by covering up Shiweda's involvement.
According to Carol-Ann, Hans-Jörg was the family's breadwinner and earned his income through two businesses - one that offered raft tours and another that offered flight tours. "We no longer have the life we had - we've lost everything," she said.
Lacking father figure
One of the Möller daughters testified that her childhood was taken from her. She added that her father's death showed the children at her school a ‘soft spot’ which they used to bully her.
"[These men] should never be let out of prison, because if they get the chance, they might use it to inflict this pain on another unsuspecting victim," she said.
During her testimony, Möller's other daughter said it was always fun for her to do artistic projects for Father's Day at school, but now it makes her sad because her father will no longer see her creations.
She added that the absence of a father figure in their lives is noticeable. "We need a father figure in our lives to teach us the things our mother can't," she said.
"At least they [the accused] can spend time with their families, we can't.”
Defence wants leniency
The defence relied mainly on the personal circumstances of the four men in hopes for leniency.
Panduleni is the only one without children. He also did not attend formal school, but earned an income by painting houses.
Shekudja's legal representative, Tanya Klazen, said he completed several courses while awaiting trial and in custody. He completed a Bible correspondence course, a course called 'A Prisoner's Journey' as well as a course with Christ Church Embassy. Klazen argued that this is reason to believe that he may be rehabilitated.
Judge Uusiku is expected to hand down their sentences on 16 September.
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The widow and her two minor daughters took to the witness stand yesterday to testify in aggravation of the sentences of four men who were found guilty of a robbery during which Möller was shot and killed.
One of the daughters narrated how her father’s killing affected her schooling."In the beginning, it was difficult to attend school and pay attention in class, but with the support of my teachers, my mother and my sister, I decided I was going to do it for my father. Since then, I have performed well academically, but my father will never be able to see it," she said.
Carol-Ann testified: "I think they should get a life sentence for the life they took from him. They should get another life sentence for the life they took from me - they stole my health from me and I can’t live properly. And they should get a life sentence for the life they took from my children.
“They followed us, they knew there were children. They planned to kill me too, so they planned to make my children orphans."
They testified before Judge Dinah Uusiku.
"No one sees my children cry. Instead of them being able to celebrate events like Father's Day, they have to go to a grave," she said.
Carol-Ann testified that she suffered neurological damage in the attack and that she now suffers from fatigue due to her condition. “Sometimes it hurts so much I can't walk.”
May take revenge
Carol-Ann said the four men found guilty of the crime - Gottlieb Panduleni, David Tashiya, David Shekudja and Elly Hinaivali - may try to take revenge on her and her children if released after serving their sentences.
She maintained during her testimony that the fifth accused who was acquitted, Malakia Shiweda, was present during the incident and that the other four were guilty of obstruction of justice by covering up Shiweda's involvement.
According to Carol-Ann, Hans-Jörg was the family's breadwinner and earned his income through two businesses - one that offered raft tours and another that offered flight tours. "We no longer have the life we had - we've lost everything," she said.
Lacking father figure
One of the Möller daughters testified that her childhood was taken from her. She added that her father's death showed the children at her school a ‘soft spot’ which they used to bully her.
"[These men] should never be let out of prison, because if they get the chance, they might use it to inflict this pain on another unsuspecting victim," she said.
During her testimony, Möller's other daughter said it was always fun for her to do artistic projects for Father's Day at school, but now it makes her sad because her father will no longer see her creations.
She added that the absence of a father figure in their lives is noticeable. "We need a father figure in our lives to teach us the things our mother can't," she said.
"At least they [the accused] can spend time with their families, we can't.”
Defence wants leniency
The defence relied mainly on the personal circumstances of the four men in hopes for leniency.
Panduleni is the only one without children. He also did not attend formal school, but earned an income by painting houses.
Shekudja's legal representative, Tanya Klazen, said he completed several courses while awaiting trial and in custody. He completed a Bible correspondence course, a course called 'A Prisoner's Journey' as well as a course with Christ Church Embassy. Klazen argued that this is reason to believe that he may be rehabilitated.
Judge Uusiku is expected to hand down their sentences on 16 September.
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