Riedel trial to resume in January
"He's lying. He heard the farmer shouting."
These are the words of Fransina Araeb who testified in the Windhoek High Court last Thursday when she was asked about her ex-husband's testimony, which had been completed that morning.
Michael Araeb was employed on a farm owned by 68-year-old Armin Riedel and his 66-year-old wife Brunhild, and testified that he saw the two defendants, Bernardus Afrikaner and Salaphual Unaeb, overpowering Brunhild and forcing their way into the farmhouse.
The Riedel couple were murdered on their farm in Gobabis in January 2018 and their house was set on fire, with their bodies still inside.
Michael testified that Armin arrived at the house later and that Afrikaner and Unaeb followed him into the house and he did not hear or see anything further after that. He later returned to his residence, where Fransina was.
“I heard it [Armin shouting] and told him to listen and he heard it too. He confirmed he heard it too," she testified last week.
Inconsistencies
There were also other inconsistencies in the former couple’s testimonies.
Michael testified that they [he, Afrikaner and Unaeb] only went back to their homes for the first time at around 14:30. However, Fransina testified that they arrived home between 13:00 and 15:00 and then went back to the farm to continue working.
She further testified that Michael and the two accused returned home before dark and that she and Michael went to Afrikaner's house and later returned home again.
She woke up during the evening when she heard Afrikaner's house door open and some time later heard the door close again, she said.
However, she could not confirm whether it was Afrikaner who left the house or returned, because she could not see who it was. She only heard it, she said.
The former couple later woke up to find the house in flames. Fransina's testimony was completed last Thursday and the case was adjourned before the State called a new witness.
The matter has been adjourned until 29 January 2024.
Afrikaner and Unaeb are standing trial on two charges of murder, two charges of rape, arson, theft with aggravating circumstances and defeating or obstructing the course of justice.
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These are the words of Fransina Araeb who testified in the Windhoek High Court last Thursday when she was asked about her ex-husband's testimony, which had been completed that morning.
Michael Araeb was employed on a farm owned by 68-year-old Armin Riedel and his 66-year-old wife Brunhild, and testified that he saw the two defendants, Bernardus Afrikaner and Salaphual Unaeb, overpowering Brunhild and forcing their way into the farmhouse.
The Riedel couple were murdered on their farm in Gobabis in January 2018 and their house was set on fire, with their bodies still inside.
Michael testified that Armin arrived at the house later and that Afrikaner and Unaeb followed him into the house and he did not hear or see anything further after that. He later returned to his residence, where Fransina was.
“I heard it [Armin shouting] and told him to listen and he heard it too. He confirmed he heard it too," she testified last week.
Inconsistencies
There were also other inconsistencies in the former couple’s testimonies.
Michael testified that they [he, Afrikaner and Unaeb] only went back to their homes for the first time at around 14:30. However, Fransina testified that they arrived home between 13:00 and 15:00 and then went back to the farm to continue working.
She further testified that Michael and the two accused returned home before dark and that she and Michael went to Afrikaner's house and later returned home again.
She woke up during the evening when she heard Afrikaner's house door open and some time later heard the door close again, she said.
However, she could not confirm whether it was Afrikaner who left the house or returned, because she could not see who it was. She only heard it, she said.
The former couple later woke up to find the house in flames. Fransina's testimony was completed last Thursday and the case was adjourned before the State called a new witness.
The matter has been adjourned until 29 January 2024.
Afrikaner and Unaeb are standing trial on two charges of murder, two charges of rape, arson, theft with aggravating circumstances and defeating or obstructing the course of justice.
– [email protected]
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