Man pleads self-defence in stepfather stabbing case
A Keetmanshoop man pleaded not guilty to a charge of murder in the High Court on Monday, telling the court he acted in self-defence when he fatally stabbed his stepfather.
Kevin Cloete (34) is accused of stabbing his 51-year-old stepfather, Deon Bobeje, in the chest during a violent scuffle at their Keetmanshoop house in February 2021.
Cloete, who is currently out on N$2 000 bail, told Windhoek High Court judge Philanda Christiaan yesterday that he stabbed Bobeje once but claimed he did so in self-defence during a physical confrontation and without the intention to kill.
During his testimony yesterday, Lee-Roy Engelbrecht, a neighbour to Cloete and Bobeje, testified he nearly got stabbed while trying to break up the fight.
“I was walking home from the mall with grocery bags when a neighbour called me to help break up the fight between the two," he told the court.
“I quickly ran over and managed to calm them down, but that only lasted about three minutes before they started hurling insults at each other [again]. It went downhill from there,” Engelbrecht added.
Witness statement
He also told the court he did not believe Cloete was acting in self-defence, as Bobeje appeared intoxicated and unable to stand on his own without falling.
“The accused continually kicked and punched the deceased during the fight,” he said. “At some point, he even uttered the words ‘Ek sal jou steek,’ which translates to ‘I will stab you’".
Engelbrecht testified that after the stabbing, when he ran to a nearby shop to seek help, Cloete followed him.
He said Cloete appeared remorseful and claimed it was not his intention to stab Bobeje.
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Kevin Cloete (34) is accused of stabbing his 51-year-old stepfather, Deon Bobeje, in the chest during a violent scuffle at their Keetmanshoop house in February 2021.
Cloete, who is currently out on N$2 000 bail, told Windhoek High Court judge Philanda Christiaan yesterday that he stabbed Bobeje once but claimed he did so in self-defence during a physical confrontation and without the intention to kill.
During his testimony yesterday, Lee-Roy Engelbrecht, a neighbour to Cloete and Bobeje, testified he nearly got stabbed while trying to break up the fight.
“I was walking home from the mall with grocery bags when a neighbour called me to help break up the fight between the two," he told the court.
“I quickly ran over and managed to calm them down, but that only lasted about three minutes before they started hurling insults at each other [again]. It went downhill from there,” Engelbrecht added.
Witness statement
He also told the court he did not believe Cloete was acting in self-defence, as Bobeje appeared intoxicated and unable to stand on his own without falling.
“The accused continually kicked and punched the deceased during the fight,” he said. “At some point, he even uttered the words ‘Ek sal jou steek,’ which translates to ‘I will stab you’".
Engelbrecht testified that after the stabbing, when he ran to a nearby shop to seek help, Cloete followed him.
He said Cloete appeared remorseful and claimed it was not his intention to stab Bobeje.
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