Möller murder case postponed
Five men accused of killing Walvis Bay resident Hans Möller made another appearance on charges of murder, attempted murder and armed robbery at the town’s magistrate’s court yesterday.
Möller died after he was shot in the stomach while trying to protect his wife Carol-Ann and their two children (aged four and six) from attackers during an armed robbery at the family’s home in June last year.
Magistrate John Sindano postponed the case against Gotlieb Panduleni, 30, David Tashiya, 29, David Shekundja, 35, Elly Ndapuka Hinavali, 29, and Malakia Shiweda, 28, to 15 May to allow the accused to apply for legal aid and further investigation.
The accused remain in custody and it is expected that they would have made formal bail applications by then.
They arrived at the court handcuffed and under heavy armed police escort and were met by a placard-waving crowd chanting slogans protesting the granting of bail.
Panduleni apparently joined his four co-accused in Walvis Bay after he appeared in Omaruru on another murder and armed robbery charge.
Public prosecutor Tresia Hafeni informed the court that the docket was send to the prosecutor-general for further directions and was returned with instructions for additional investigations.
She requested that the case which is likely to be tried in the high court, be postponed to 15 May and that the accused remain in custody. Hafeni previously opposed bail stating that the suspects were a high flight risk considering the seriousness of the crime.
“All accused must sort out their legal aid applications and have now been provided with ample time to do so,” Hafeni told the court.
Lawyer Dube Mpokiseng who acts on behalf of Tashiya and Shekundja did not object to the postponement and said he hoped that the processes highlighted by the attorney- general would be completed before the next court appearance.
He also told the court that the legal aid board was still sorting out Panduleni and Shiweda’s files who submitted applications for legal assistance.
Hinavali apparently lost his identification document but a birth certificate or voter’s registration card would be sufficient to allow him to get legal assistance, the court heard.
OTIS FINCK
Möller died after he was shot in the stomach while trying to protect his wife Carol-Ann and their two children (aged four and six) from attackers during an armed robbery at the family’s home in June last year.
Magistrate John Sindano postponed the case against Gotlieb Panduleni, 30, David Tashiya, 29, David Shekundja, 35, Elly Ndapuka Hinavali, 29, and Malakia Shiweda, 28, to 15 May to allow the accused to apply for legal aid and further investigation.
The accused remain in custody and it is expected that they would have made formal bail applications by then.
They arrived at the court handcuffed and under heavy armed police escort and were met by a placard-waving crowd chanting slogans protesting the granting of bail.
Panduleni apparently joined his four co-accused in Walvis Bay after he appeared in Omaruru on another murder and armed robbery charge.
Public prosecutor Tresia Hafeni informed the court that the docket was send to the prosecutor-general for further directions and was returned with instructions for additional investigations.
She requested that the case which is likely to be tried in the high court, be postponed to 15 May and that the accused remain in custody. Hafeni previously opposed bail stating that the suspects were a high flight risk considering the seriousness of the crime.
“All accused must sort out their legal aid applications and have now been provided with ample time to do so,” Hafeni told the court.
Lawyer Dube Mpokiseng who acts on behalf of Tashiya and Shekundja did not object to the postponement and said he hoped that the processes highlighted by the attorney- general would be completed before the next court appearance.
He also told the court that the legal aid board was still sorting out Panduleni and Shiweda’s files who submitted applications for legal assistance.
Hinavali apparently lost his identification document but a birth certificate or voter’s registration card would be sufficient to allow him to get legal assistance, the court heard.
OTIS FINCK
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