Life sentence for man who killed wife, son

Eight years after killing his wife and seven-year-old son, Mbangu Vensislaus Mutero (53) was yesterday sentenced to life imprisonment in the Oshakati High Court.Judge Duard Kesslau sentenced Mutero to 21 years for the murder of his wife, Rosalie Shirenga Shitjoni, and life for the murder of his son, Aleksus Vipanda.Although Mutero claimed in December, during the mitigation-of-sentence proceedings, that the 2015 murders were an accident, the court found him guilty and slapped him with a harsh punishment.Mutero was represented by Absalom Shiningayamwe, while Advocate Victoria Shigwedha represented the State.Shiningayamwe asked for a total 30-year prison sentence during mitigation proceedings, while the prosecution pushed for life imprisonment on both counts.Toxic relationshipNamibian Sun previously reported that Mutero, on 25 September 2015, murdered his wife in a fit of jealousy. The couple was reportedly in a toxic relationship marred by constant fighting.Mutero shot his wife after a heated argument, and when their son – who was in another room at the time – ran out at the sound of the gunshot, he shot him in the head too.Mutero informed the court in December that he’s a father of six other children.He added that had spent N$50 000 on funerals for his wife and son, while the Gciriku Traditional Authority fined him N$41 000 to ‘console’ his late wife’s family.While he used to sell bricks, reportedly making a profit of N$50 000 when business was flourishing, his business had since collapsed, Mutero said.He further claimed that his in-laws had ransacked his house, and that items worth N$400 000 were never recovered.‘Everything was fine’Mutero also told the court that he is sickly, having suffered from a heart condition since 1997.He has been on treatment ever since and now cannot sleep on his left side, he said.On his marriage, the convicted murderer claimed “everything was fine until the &#039;accident’”.According to him, after he was granted bail in 2018, his wife’s family forgave him, adding that they even took him to a church in Rundu as a sign of moving on.The only person who has not forgiven him is his mother-in-law, he narrated.Culpable homicideMeanwhile, while on bail, Mutero found himself on the wrong side of the law again after he - on 30 December 2019 – reportedly hit and killed four people with his car.The victims - Petrus Kongo Haingura (44), Muhafereni Patricia Musinga Haingura (38), Belindine Kasiku Haingura (1) and Phillip Poroto Haingura (5) – were crossing the Trans-Zambezi highway at the time at Rundu’s Ndama location.Three of the family members died on the scene, while five-year-old Phillip succumbed to his injuries in hospital later.Mutero allegedly fled the scene and hid the vehicle a kilometre from where the incident took place.He was subsequently arrested.The culpable homicide case has not yet been concluded.kenya@namibiansun.com

Life sentence for man who killed wife, son

Comments

Namibian Sun 2025-09-16

Please login to leave a comment

Life sentence for man who killed wife, son

Comments

Namibian Sun 2025-09-16

Please login to leave a comment

Login