Murder-accused gym instructor to learn bail decision soon
A gym instructor accused of murdering Frieda Amadhila, his 29-year-old girlfriend, will find out later this month whether he will be granted bail after appealing a January decision that kept him behind bars.
Tjizake Murangi (22), who was initially denied bail in the Windhoek Magistrates’ Court on 17 January, filed a High Court appeal, which is being heard by judges Naomi Shivute and Philanda Christiaan. The matter was postponed to 25 April for judgment.
Both the state and Murangi’s defence team closed their arguments on Monday.
In his heads of argument, the accused and his legal team argue that magistrate Monica Andjamba erred in concluding that the case against Murangi was strong, as it was based solely on the investigating officer's, Joseph Sakaria, testimony.
Under cross-examination, the officer conceded that no MTC records were submitted, lab results were still pending, no doctor's statements were provided, and even the photo plan was absent. "Furthermore, and most significantly, the appellant's [Murangi] version of events under oath was not disputed by any stronger evidence beyond his own, as the investigating officer merely expressed his opinions," the court was told.
The state, represented by Maria Shilongo, however, argued that the appellant's ground had no merit.
She added: “A post-mortem report was also produced, which depicts the injuries on the deceased, one of which was a fatal 17 cm deep penetrating wound, along with several defence wounds.”
According to Shilongo, the pair had broken up prior to the day of the murder.
“The question is, what was the appellant doing at her place? If he was an invited guest, why did he jump the gate? Why was he knocking at her window if ‘she had opened the big gate for him’ and his visit and presence were already expected? Why did he break the burglar bars to gain access to her house?” Shilongo asked, directing her questions at Murangi's lawyer, Milton Engelbrecht.
Murderous encounter
The murder of Amadhila shocked many Namibians due to the circumstances surrounding her death. Amadhila was stabbed eight times with a “big knife” in her chest and arms in April last year at her apartment in Windhoek.
Murangi’s two-day bail hearing, which took place on 6 December, included testimony from Frieda's sister, Elina Amadhila, and a neighbour, Amo Steyn. Steyn called the police after Murangi allegedly ran to his apartment seeking assistance following the attack.
In her testimony, Elina revealed that Frieda had told her family that Murangi was physically abusive toward her.
Their family had even met to advise the couple to separate.
Tjizake Murangi (22), who was initially denied bail in the Windhoek Magistrates’ Court on 17 January, filed a High Court appeal, which is being heard by judges Naomi Shivute and Philanda Christiaan. The matter was postponed to 25 April for judgment.
Both the state and Murangi’s defence team closed their arguments on Monday.
In his heads of argument, the accused and his legal team argue that magistrate Monica Andjamba erred in concluding that the case against Murangi was strong, as it was based solely on the investigating officer's, Joseph Sakaria, testimony.
Under cross-examination, the officer conceded that no MTC records were submitted, lab results were still pending, no doctor's statements were provided, and even the photo plan was absent. "Furthermore, and most significantly, the appellant's [Murangi] version of events under oath was not disputed by any stronger evidence beyond his own, as the investigating officer merely expressed his opinions," the court was told.
The state, represented by Maria Shilongo, however, argued that the appellant's ground had no merit.
She added: “A post-mortem report was also produced, which depicts the injuries on the deceased, one of which was a fatal 17 cm deep penetrating wound, along with several defence wounds.”
According to Shilongo, the pair had broken up prior to the day of the murder.
“The question is, what was the appellant doing at her place? If he was an invited guest, why did he jump the gate? Why was he knocking at her window if ‘she had opened the big gate for him’ and his visit and presence were already expected? Why did he break the burglar bars to gain access to her house?” Shilongo asked, directing her questions at Murangi's lawyer, Milton Engelbrecht.
Murderous encounter
The murder of Amadhila shocked many Namibians due to the circumstances surrounding her death. Amadhila was stabbed eight times with a “big knife” in her chest and arms in April last year at her apartment in Windhoek.
Murangi’s two-day bail hearing, which took place on 6 December, included testimony from Frieda's sister, Elina Amadhila, and a neighbour, Amo Steyn. Steyn called the police after Murangi allegedly ran to his apartment seeking assistance following the attack.
In her testimony, Elina revealed that Frieda had told her family that Murangi was physically abusive toward her.
Their family had even met to advise the couple to separate.
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