Back to 'normal': Grade 5 murder suspect writes exams
KENYA KAMBOWE
KAGUNI
A grade five learner at Kaguni Combined School who stands accused of murder - after he allegedly fatally stabbed a fellow pupil - went to school this week to write exams.
The 14-year-old suspect was arrested last Friday night after Paulus Mutesi (15), a grade 8 learner at the same school, was stabbed in the chest with a traditional knife at Kaguni village in the Kavango West Region, and died on the way to the hospital.
It is believed the two, who are known to be friends, were attending a memorial service that night and got into a fight.
However, a Namibian Sun investigation has found that two versions of what transpired that night exist.
I blacked out, suspect claims
According to a weekly police report, the suspect and the victim had a fight that night which led to the suspect stabbing the victim once in the middle of the chest. The victim died on his way to the hospital, and the suspect was arrested and taken to Ncaute police station, where he was interrogated and eventually released on a warning.
Meanwhile, according to community members, when found at the scene, the suspect said he didn’t know what happened.
The suspect claimed they were both attacked by unknown persons and after he woke up from a blackout, he discovered his friend in a pool of blood, a source said.
The source further said he called the Ncaute police station, which is about 90 kilometres away, at around midnight, but the police only showed up the following day.
Because there was no response from the police at the time, the victim was loaded onto a vehicle of one of the community members, but by the time they reached the Rundu police station, the victim had succumbed to the injury, the source said.
Back at school
In an interview with Namibian Sun yesterday, Kaguni Combined School acting principal John Kandjimi said the school is aware of the situation.
“It is really bad as to what transpired,” he said.
He said the suspect attended school on Monday, two days after the fateful incident, to write an exam.
The suspect went to school of his own accord, but out of fear for his safety, his parents were informed to collect him, the acting principal said.
Yesterday no exams for the grade fives took place, therefore, he was not at school.
Asked whether there has been police protection arranged for the accused, who lives less than 400 metres away from the victim’s homestead, Kandjimi said he was not aware of any, something he is also puzzled about.
“That is why we had to call the parents to come get him so that nothing bad happens to him,” he said.
As for the behaviour of the accused, Kandjimi said the learner was not his usual self. “He looked depressed,” he said.
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KAGUNI
A grade five learner at Kaguni Combined School who stands accused of murder - after he allegedly fatally stabbed a fellow pupil - went to school this week to write exams.
The 14-year-old suspect was arrested last Friday night after Paulus Mutesi (15), a grade 8 learner at the same school, was stabbed in the chest with a traditional knife at Kaguni village in the Kavango West Region, and died on the way to the hospital.
It is believed the two, who are known to be friends, were attending a memorial service that night and got into a fight.
However, a Namibian Sun investigation has found that two versions of what transpired that night exist.
I blacked out, suspect claims
According to a weekly police report, the suspect and the victim had a fight that night which led to the suspect stabbing the victim once in the middle of the chest. The victim died on his way to the hospital, and the suspect was arrested and taken to Ncaute police station, where he was interrogated and eventually released on a warning.
Meanwhile, according to community members, when found at the scene, the suspect said he didn’t know what happened.
The suspect claimed they were both attacked by unknown persons and after he woke up from a blackout, he discovered his friend in a pool of blood, a source said.
The source further said he called the Ncaute police station, which is about 90 kilometres away, at around midnight, but the police only showed up the following day.
Because there was no response from the police at the time, the victim was loaded onto a vehicle of one of the community members, but by the time they reached the Rundu police station, the victim had succumbed to the injury, the source said.
Back at school
In an interview with Namibian Sun yesterday, Kaguni Combined School acting principal John Kandjimi said the school is aware of the situation.
“It is really bad as to what transpired,” he said.
He said the suspect attended school on Monday, two days after the fateful incident, to write an exam.
The suspect went to school of his own accord, but out of fear for his safety, his parents were informed to collect him, the acting principal said.
Yesterday no exams for the grade fives took place, therefore, he was not at school.
Asked whether there has been police protection arranged for the accused, who lives less than 400 metres away from the victim’s homestead, Kandjimi said he was not aware of any, something he is also puzzled about.
“That is why we had to call the parents to come get him so that nothing bad happens to him,” he said.
As for the behaviour of the accused, Kandjimi said the learner was not his usual self. “He looked depressed,” he said.
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