MURDER: Herold Uirab (35) has admitted that he killed Lydia Garises, a 23-year-old woman with whom he reportedly had an affair. PHOTO: FILE
MURDER: Herold Uirab (35) has admitted that he killed Lydia Garises, a 23-year-old woman with whom he reportedly had an affair. PHOTO: FILE

Man pleads guilty to murder of Lydia Garises (23)

Rita Kakelo
Herold Uirab (35) has pleaded guilty and confessed to killing 23-year-old Lydia Garises at a farm in Dordabis nearly five years ago, after she reportedly threatened to reveal their affair to his long-term partner.

Uirab tendered his guilty plea in the Windhoek High Court this week, where he informed judge Eileen Rakow that before he stoned Garises to death, they were at a wedding reception.

"On 11–12 December 2021, at a farm in Dordabis, I unlawfully and intentionally killed Lydia Garises," his plea document states.

"I further state that on the said date, Lydia and I, who were having an affair, attended a wedding reception. I invited Lydia to run to a nearby riverbed, where I initiated that we have sexual intercourse."

Uirab, who was 30 years old at the time he committed the murder, confirmed that while they were having sexual intercourse, they heard people approaching, prompting them to move further down the riverbed.

He said that once they had moved, Garises had a change of heart and refused to continue. “She refused to have sex with me and ranted about ending things with my main partner, or else she would reveal our secret," his plea reads.



Defeating the ends of justice

Uirab also faces an additional charge of defeating the ends of justice for hiding the clothes he wore on the day of Garises’ murder, a charge to which he pleaded guilty.

"To conceal evidence indicating that I killed Lydia Garises, and to protect myself from being prosecuted for the crime of murder," he admitted.

“I am remorseful for my actions and tender this guilty plea as a token thereof."

Towards the end of his plea explanation, he said he regretted his actions and asked the court to exercise leniency in sentencing.

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Namibian Sun 2025-10-25

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