Chilling evidence led in murder trial
Former policeman Lazarus Oscar Awaseb has testified in the High Court that his gun went off by accident while he was trying to take it back from the deceased.
A former police detective who was stationed at Gobabis vividly described the struggle that took place over a pistol which he tried to wrest from the hands of the deceased before the fatal shot.
Lazarus Oscar Awaseb, 50, was testifying in the High Court in his murder trial, charged with the killing of Odilo Rathebe Motonane, 18.
He told the court he initially went to try and resolve a fight he had had earlier with his girlfriend, Mildred Hoases, which was caused, he said, by her demanding to be given money immediately.
He testified that she told him, “Jou t***l, wat wil jy vir my sê?” He added that she continued to utter profanities when he refused to give her money and that was why the fight ensued.
He said he wanted to sort it out.
“When I went to her room I wanted to talk to her to harmonise our relationship,” he said, and denied that he went there to kill Motonane, saying he did not know the young man was there.
Motonane was shot and killed on 22 March 2016.
Awaseb testified that Motonane confronted him when he arrived. He told the court Motonane was Hoases's former boyfriend.
Motonane opened the door and asked what he was doing there, he said, and further, instructed him that he was not to enter the house.
“I moved forward and he moved towards me and raised his hand as if he wanted to grab me by my neck, but he pushed me. I fell and in the process my service pistol fell to the ground,” Awaseb testified.
Awaseb faces charges of murder and attempted murder, read in conjunction with Combatting of Domestic Violence Act, with alternative charges of negligent discharge or handling of a firearm and unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition.
According to the State, Awaseb shot Motonane in the back. The State charges that the shooting was motivated by jealousy after Awaseb found Motonane with his girlfriend.
Awaseb is also charged with attempted murder in that he shot and wounded Hoases.
It is alleged that Awaseb attempted suicide after the incident by shooting himself in the chest, but he survived.
According to the State, Awaseb was in unlawful possession of the gun and ammunition.
Prior to the killing, Awaseb allegedly damaged a home theatre system, DVD player and television set owned by Hoases sometime between 18 and 22 March. In this regard, he faces a charge of malicious damage to property.
Awaseb yesterday told the court that Motonane had grabbed the pistol after it fell, cocked it and aimed it at him.
“I grabbed the hand he was holding the pistol with and told him he [must let go of] the pistol because we could get hurt but he did not say anything,” he maintained.
While he was trying to wrest the pistol from Motonane a shot went off, he said. Another shot went off and at this time, Awaseb said, Hoases shouted and ran out of the house.
“I do not know how many shots went off in the process but it was more than one,” he testified.
He was also wounded in the process, he said.
“Then Motonane fell to the ground and I had the gun in my hands. I lost consciousness and later woke on the bed with the gun beside me.” He was later taken by an ambulance to the hospital.
The trial continues before Judge Dinnah Usiku. Cliff Litubezi prosecutes while Miese Tjiture appears for Awaseb.
FRED GOEIEMAN
Lazarus Oscar Awaseb, 50, was testifying in the High Court in his murder trial, charged with the killing of Odilo Rathebe Motonane, 18.
He told the court he initially went to try and resolve a fight he had had earlier with his girlfriend, Mildred Hoases, which was caused, he said, by her demanding to be given money immediately.
He testified that she told him, “Jou t***l, wat wil jy vir my sê?” He added that she continued to utter profanities when he refused to give her money and that was why the fight ensued.
He said he wanted to sort it out.
“When I went to her room I wanted to talk to her to harmonise our relationship,” he said, and denied that he went there to kill Motonane, saying he did not know the young man was there.
Motonane was shot and killed on 22 March 2016.
Awaseb testified that Motonane confronted him when he arrived. He told the court Motonane was Hoases's former boyfriend.
Motonane opened the door and asked what he was doing there, he said, and further, instructed him that he was not to enter the house.
“I moved forward and he moved towards me and raised his hand as if he wanted to grab me by my neck, but he pushed me. I fell and in the process my service pistol fell to the ground,” Awaseb testified.
Awaseb faces charges of murder and attempted murder, read in conjunction with Combatting of Domestic Violence Act, with alternative charges of negligent discharge or handling of a firearm and unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition.
According to the State, Awaseb shot Motonane in the back. The State charges that the shooting was motivated by jealousy after Awaseb found Motonane with his girlfriend.
Awaseb is also charged with attempted murder in that he shot and wounded Hoases.
It is alleged that Awaseb attempted suicide after the incident by shooting himself in the chest, but he survived.
According to the State, Awaseb was in unlawful possession of the gun and ammunition.
Prior to the killing, Awaseb allegedly damaged a home theatre system, DVD player and television set owned by Hoases sometime between 18 and 22 March. In this regard, he faces a charge of malicious damage to property.
Awaseb yesterday told the court that Motonane had grabbed the pistol after it fell, cocked it and aimed it at him.
“I grabbed the hand he was holding the pistol with and told him he [must let go of] the pistol because we could get hurt but he did not say anything,” he maintained.
While he was trying to wrest the pistol from Motonane a shot went off, he said. Another shot went off and at this time, Awaseb said, Hoases shouted and ran out of the house.
“I do not know how many shots went off in the process but it was more than one,” he testified.
He was also wounded in the process, he said.
“Then Motonane fell to the ground and I had the gun in my hands. I lost consciousness and later woke on the bed with the gun beside me.” He was later taken by an ambulance to the hospital.
The trial continues before Judge Dinnah Usiku. Cliff Litubezi prosecutes while Miese Tjiture appears for Awaseb.
FRED GOEIEMAN
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