Daries assault case back in court

A case arising from the brutal assault of Shelldou Daries, now 25, resumed in court this week. The attack, which took place when he was 21, reportedly left him permanently disabled and confined to a wheelchair.The two men accused of attempting to murder him in September 2021, Llewellyn Olivier and Alistair Steenkamp, who were reportedly close friends of the victim, appeared in the Windhoek Magistrate's Court on Tuesday. The duo are currently out on bail. Daries’ cousin, Dwayne Daries, took the stand before magistrate Jozanne Klazen, recounting the events that left Shelldou fighting for his life on life support in a Windhoek hospital.He confirmed that he knew both accused. “On that day, we were at Olivier’s house in Bethlehem for his father’s funeral. Afterwards, we, Shelldou included, returned to his place to socialise", Dwayne testified.Dwayne told the court that when he went home to change and returned, a fight had seemingly broken out between Shelldou, Olivier and Steenkamp.“Olivier walked up to me and asked about Shelldou, saying he had been stabbed by him. I told him I had left Shelldou at his house with everyone else,” Dwayne testified.He said while they were talking, Shelldou appeared and joined them.“As soon as he approached, a scuffle broke out. That's when Olivier and Steenkamp started attacking him with their fists,” Dwayne said.“I heard him screaming for help”Testimony The two accused allegedly carried Shelldou into the house and the assault continued. “All I heard was Shelldou screaming for help," Dwayne testified. “Where were you while this was happening?” asked State prosecutor Mwaka Matengu. Dwayne replied that he was allegedly forced to remain outside after being threatened by others that he would be hurt if he intervened.According to Dwayne, several people eventually tried to stop the attack, but Olivier allegedly threatened anyone who dared to stop him. “Olivier went back into the room where he had locked himself and Shelldou in and continued the assault,” Dwayne testified. “Shelldou kept screaming, ‘Aunty Jacky, Aunty Jacky, help, help!’”He added that he repeatedly asked to check if Shelldou was okay, but Olivier refused.Left alone Dwayne testified that the following day he was asked to clean up Shelldou’s blood, which had dried on the floor. By then, Shelldou had allegedly been moved to another room, where he reportedly lay for a day without medical care before he was taken to hospital. Following the assault, Shelldou was in a coma and placed on life support. He also had to undergo an emergency operation that lasted several hours. Shelldou spent three months in the intensive care unit, received nutrition through a feeding tube, and was later transferred to a general ward. He was subsequently discharged into the care of his mother, Joanie Daries.Proceedings are set to continue this week. Olivier is represented by his private lawyer Garth Joseph, while Steenkamp is represented by Moses Ikanga.rita@nmh-hub.com.na

Daries assault case back in court

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Namibian Sun 2026-03-26

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Daries assault case back in court

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Namibian Sun 2026-03-26

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