Confessed killer pleads not guilty
Two years after allegedly strangling his girlfriend, a Rundu resident who previously confessed to the murder has pleaded not guilty, placing the onus on the State to prove his guilt.
KENYA KAMBOWE
RUNDU
Castro Domingo (34), who had previously confessed to having killed and buried his girlfriend two years ago, yesterday pleaded not guilty in the Rundu Magistrate's Court.
Domingo stands accused of murder, read with the provisions of the Domestic Violence Act, and defeating and obstructing the course of justice.
He allegedly strangled Cecilia Deborah Murotwa (26) at Mukwe in February 2018 and then transported the corpse 200 kilometres to Rundu, where he buried it in a shallow grave.
Domingo initially confessed to the murder and directed the police to where he had buried Murotwa. But when he appeared before Magistrate Sonia Samupofu yesterday, he pleaded not guilty on all three counts.
The matter was postponed to 13 July for the prosecutor-general's decision. Domingo remains in police custody.
Public outcry
On 24 May, the Rundu Magistrate's Court provisionally struck the case from the court roll because the State was not ready to proceed with the prosecution.
Domingo's release sparked a public outcry and he was re-arrested a week later.
The State is apparently struggling to gather evidence and cannot rely on Domingo's confession alone to prove his guilt.
Namibian Sun has learnt that the results of forensic tests are still outstanding.
State advocate Simba Nduna yesterday told the media that the prosecution was satisfied with the progress made by the police to expedite the laboratory results.
The samples were sent to the National Forensic Science Institute (NFSI) in March 2018.
Namibian Sun previously reported that the NFSI was unable to carry out its functions because of limited resources.
The late Murotwa's family yesterday held a peaceful demonstration outside the Rundu Magistrate's Court to express their disappointment with the manner in which the case is being handled.
RUNDU
Castro Domingo (34), who had previously confessed to having killed and buried his girlfriend two years ago, yesterday pleaded not guilty in the Rundu Magistrate's Court.
Domingo stands accused of murder, read with the provisions of the Domestic Violence Act, and defeating and obstructing the course of justice.
He allegedly strangled Cecilia Deborah Murotwa (26) at Mukwe in February 2018 and then transported the corpse 200 kilometres to Rundu, where he buried it in a shallow grave.
Domingo initially confessed to the murder and directed the police to where he had buried Murotwa. But when he appeared before Magistrate Sonia Samupofu yesterday, he pleaded not guilty on all three counts.
The matter was postponed to 13 July for the prosecutor-general's decision. Domingo remains in police custody.
Public outcry
On 24 May, the Rundu Magistrate's Court provisionally struck the case from the court roll because the State was not ready to proceed with the prosecution.
Domingo's release sparked a public outcry and he was re-arrested a week later.
The State is apparently struggling to gather evidence and cannot rely on Domingo's confession alone to prove his guilt.
Namibian Sun has learnt that the results of forensic tests are still outstanding.
State advocate Simba Nduna yesterday told the media that the prosecution was satisfied with the progress made by the police to expedite the laboratory results.
The samples were sent to the National Forensic Science Institute (NFSI) in March 2018.
Namibian Sun previously reported that the NFSI was unable to carry out its functions because of limited resources.
The late Murotwa's family yesterday held a peaceful demonstration outside the Rundu Magistrate's Court to express their disappointment with the manner in which the case is being handled.
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