Woman accused of murdering husband seeks bail
Mother of two the sole breadwinner
The accused claims she was unfairly denied bail and that her husband, who she says was drunk, had fallen multiple times on the day he died, likely causing internal injuries.
A woman accused of killing her husband in December last year in Rundu is appealing the refusal of her first bail application in the Windhoek High Court.
Sherenda Cloete (39) is alleged to have beaten her husband, Petrus Cloete, whom she was married to for 15 years, to death with a broomstick and an electric wire.
As a result, she was arrested and charged with one count of murder read with the provisions of the Combating of Domestic Violence Act 4 of 2003.
On 10 January, Cloete was denied bail by magistrate Selma Shiiga in the Rundu Magistrate’s Court.
She is now pleading with the court to grant her bail of N$3 000, arguing that she needs to provide for her two children, who depend on her as their sole breadwinner.
During a brief court appearance before judge Herman January on Monday, Cloete, represented by her legal representative Sylvia Kahengombe, had her case postponed to 28 March for a bail appeal hearing.
Grounds of appeal
Cloete, who maintains her innocence, claims that her late husband fell multiple times on the day he died. She told the court that her late husband fell on his face and another time on his back on a hard surface, which could have caused internal bleeding.
She believes that magistrate Shiiga did not fully consider her version of events when deciding whether to grant bail.
"On the day in question, my husband was drunk, having been drinking since morning. He fell approximately three times on the wet floor while I was mopping, despite my attempts to stop him from moving around. I tried, but he refused," her appeal records read.
Another ground on which Cloete seeks bail is her argument that the magistrate unfairly focused on a medical report that was never officially presented in court and did not properly consider her right to be presumed innocent until proven guilty.
The State is represented by Ian Malumani.
Sherenda Cloete (39) is alleged to have beaten her husband, Petrus Cloete, whom she was married to for 15 years, to death with a broomstick and an electric wire.
As a result, she was arrested and charged with one count of murder read with the provisions of the Combating of Domestic Violence Act 4 of 2003.
On 10 January, Cloete was denied bail by magistrate Selma Shiiga in the Rundu Magistrate’s Court.
She is now pleading with the court to grant her bail of N$3 000, arguing that she needs to provide for her two children, who depend on her as their sole breadwinner.
During a brief court appearance before judge Herman January on Monday, Cloete, represented by her legal representative Sylvia Kahengombe, had her case postponed to 28 March for a bail appeal hearing.
Grounds of appeal
Cloete, who maintains her innocence, claims that her late husband fell multiple times on the day he died. She told the court that her late husband fell on his face and another time on his back on a hard surface, which could have caused internal bleeding.
She believes that magistrate Shiiga did not fully consider her version of events when deciding whether to grant bail.
"On the day in question, my husband was drunk, having been drinking since morning. He fell approximately three times on the wet floor while I was mopping, despite my attempts to stop him from moving around. I tried, but he refused," her appeal records read.
Another ground on which Cloete seeks bail is her argument that the magistrate unfairly focused on a medical report that was never officially presented in court and did not properly consider her right to be presumed innocent until proven guilty.
The State is represented by Ian Malumani.
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