Alleged student killer fit to stand trial

A former information technology (IT) technician, who allegedly murdered a trainee pastor at the Paulinum Theological College in February this year, has been declared fit to stand trial. A psychiatric report, handed as evidence by the State last week in its case against Andre Castri Friedel Dausab, 32, stated that he does not suffer from any mental illness. The report stated that Dausab could appreciate the wrongfulness of his actions at the time he allegedly killed Gofaone Motlamme, 33, who was from Botswana. He allgedly stabbed Motlamme nine times before slitting her throat. The two were allegedly involved in turbulent relationship during which they broke up and reunited several times. During his first appearance, Dausab was not handcuffed and caused a commotion in the corridors of the Windhoek Magistrate’s Court when he punched a journalist who was photographing him. During another appearance, Dausab told the court he had suicidal thoughts and wanted to go to Botswana to ask for forgiveness from the victim’s family. He also indicated he did not want to proceed with the mental observation, but Magistrate Jermaine Muchali warned him of the risks of abandoning the assessment. This included that he would then simply be judged sane and that he would be prosecuted for murder. Dausab replied at the time that he understood the risks, but did not think that he would live much longer because of his emotional state. WINDHOEK FRED GOEIEMAN