Murder-accused cleaner applies for bail ‘to save job’
Epifania Diladileni Teteleni (37), who stands accused of murdering her boyfriend, has approached the Ondangwa Magistrate’s Court seeking to be released on bail in order to save her job as a cleaner at Onandjokwe State Hospital.
Teteleni has been fighting for bail since Monday after she was arrested on 10 February for the murder of 28-year-old Samuel Amutengelo Tuhafeni, whom she allegedly stabbed to death with a screwdriver.
She appeared before Magistrate Nelao Ya France, who yesterday adjourned the matter to next Tuesday for her verdict.
According to court documents, a fight over a car - which both Teteleni and Tuhafeni claimed ownership of – led to the murder.
The two were in a romantic relationship for over two years.
Teteleni, who claims she stabbed her boyfriend in self-defence, argued that she is on the verge of losing her job.
She has not reported for duty since her arrest, telling the court that she had applied for 30 days’ leave, which lapses today. She fears her contract might be terminated.
“On 28 March, my leave will lapse. I was informed that once my leave finishes, they might terminate my work employment because there is nothing to indicate what leave I am on,” she said.
Breadwinner
An emotional Teteleni informed the court that she is the breadwinner in her household, taking care of her three children, five unemployed siblings and pensioner mother.
She admitted guilt for taking a life, but hastened to add that it was in self-defence.
“I am guilty for taking life out of somebody,” she testified.
According to her, Tuhafeni arrived home at around 03:00 on the fateful morning, and she demanded the keys to the car, which he drove as a taxi.
When he handed them over, Teteleni then allegedly went to a friend, who escorted her to the car.
They met Tuhafeni and a male friend along the way, and a fight erupted.
Tuhafeni allegedly broke the car’s windows and took a screwdriver from the vehicle, which he allegedly used to stab his girlfriend.
The couple wrestled, the woman overpowered her boyfriend and - once she got hold of the screwdriver - she stabbed him in the chest.
‘He was assaulting me’
The murder-accused cleaner claims she only stabbed her lover once, but according to the Namibian Police, the victim sustained three stab wounds.
“The reason why I used a screwdriver is because I took the screwdriver from him,” she testified.
“He was going to stab me. I do not know what his reason was for wanting to stab me,” Teteleni said.
“When I took the screwdriver from him, he assaulted me and I fell on the ground. I got up and then he put me down again. By that time, he was assaulting me and there was no one separating us. So, when I got up from the ground, that is when I stabbed him.”
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Teteleni has been fighting for bail since Monday after she was arrested on 10 February for the murder of 28-year-old Samuel Amutengelo Tuhafeni, whom she allegedly stabbed to death with a screwdriver.
She appeared before Magistrate Nelao Ya France, who yesterday adjourned the matter to next Tuesday for her verdict.
According to court documents, a fight over a car - which both Teteleni and Tuhafeni claimed ownership of – led to the murder.
The two were in a romantic relationship for over two years.
Teteleni, who claims she stabbed her boyfriend in self-defence, argued that she is on the verge of losing her job.
She has not reported for duty since her arrest, telling the court that she had applied for 30 days’ leave, which lapses today. She fears her contract might be terminated.
“On 28 March, my leave will lapse. I was informed that once my leave finishes, they might terminate my work employment because there is nothing to indicate what leave I am on,” she said.
Breadwinner
An emotional Teteleni informed the court that she is the breadwinner in her household, taking care of her three children, five unemployed siblings and pensioner mother.
She admitted guilt for taking a life, but hastened to add that it was in self-defence.
“I am guilty for taking life out of somebody,” she testified.
According to her, Tuhafeni arrived home at around 03:00 on the fateful morning, and she demanded the keys to the car, which he drove as a taxi.
When he handed them over, Teteleni then allegedly went to a friend, who escorted her to the car.
They met Tuhafeni and a male friend along the way, and a fight erupted.
Tuhafeni allegedly broke the car’s windows and took a screwdriver from the vehicle, which he allegedly used to stab his girlfriend.
The couple wrestled, the woman overpowered her boyfriend and - once she got hold of the screwdriver - she stabbed him in the chest.
‘He was assaulting me’
The murder-accused cleaner claims she only stabbed her lover once, but according to the Namibian Police, the victim sustained three stab wounds.
“The reason why I used a screwdriver is because I took the screwdriver from him,” she testified.
“He was going to stab me. I do not know what his reason was for wanting to stab me,” Teteleni said.
“When I took the screwdriver from him, he assaulted me and I fell on the ground. I got up and then he put me down again. By that time, he was assaulting me and there was no one separating us. So, when I got up from the ground, that is when I stabbed him.”
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