Cop faces murder charge over teen's death
05 December 2019 | Crime
A case of murder has been opened against a police officer who fatally shot 18-year-old Johnny Doeseb in Katutura on Sunday night.
The police are urging all witnesses to approach the Katutura Criminal Investigations Unit to make statements.
The police have also called on the public not to jump to conclusions and make unwarranted threats on social media.
“It must be known that the Namibian Police Force will not compromise the safety of the Namibian nation as well as that of its members and thus will decisively deal with whoever disrupts or cause any violence amongst society,” Chief Inspector Kauna Shikwambi said in a statement yesterday.
Doeseb was shot by an undercover police officer after allegedly resisting arrest and assaulting police officers.
His family claimed that the police lied about the circumstances surrounding the shooting and that Doeseb had been manhandled.
“The recent unfortunate incident where a young man lost his life could have been avoided had the now deceased suspect cooperated with the police. The suspect in this specific incident was a wanted person and the police had all the legitimate reasons to affect an arrest,” said Shikwambi.
According to her, Doeseb had a number of charges against him, ranging from malicious damage to property to armed robbery, possession of suspected stolen property, housebreaking, assault, GBH, attempted robbery and attempted murder.
Shikwambi said the mandate of the police is to protect the public, including suspects in criminal cases.
“However, it must be clear and understood that an officer may use maximum/deadly force when his/her life or the life of a third party is in eminent danger.” She said in such cases officers must make a split-second decisions or risk losing their own lives.
Shikwambi explained that when the police arrest someone, that person is not necessarily guilty and the officers must act professionally and prevent the situation from turning violent.
Shikwambi also reminded bystanders to allow the police to carry out their duties without any hindrance.
“The Namibian Police Force remains a competent and professional force to reckon with and we thus urge the public to report without hesitation all criminality and any unbecoming behaviour by police officers to the nearest police station commander.”
Meanwhile, the police have also warned they will not tolerate threats from the community following the shooting incident. There have apparently been threats that policemen entering the Dolam area will be harmed.
ELLANIE SMIT
The police are urging all witnesses to approach the Katutura Criminal Investigations Unit to make statements.
The police have also called on the public not to jump to conclusions and make unwarranted threats on social media.
“It must be known that the Namibian Police Force will not compromise the safety of the Namibian nation as well as that of its members and thus will decisively deal with whoever disrupts or cause any violence amongst society,” Chief Inspector Kauna Shikwambi said in a statement yesterday.
Doeseb was shot by an undercover police officer after allegedly resisting arrest and assaulting police officers.
His family claimed that the police lied about the circumstances surrounding the shooting and that Doeseb had been manhandled.
“The recent unfortunate incident where a young man lost his life could have been avoided had the now deceased suspect cooperated with the police. The suspect in this specific incident was a wanted person and the police had all the legitimate reasons to affect an arrest,” said Shikwambi.
According to her, Doeseb had a number of charges against him, ranging from malicious damage to property to armed robbery, possession of suspected stolen property, housebreaking, assault, GBH, attempted robbery and attempted murder.
Shikwambi said the mandate of the police is to protect the public, including suspects in criminal cases.
“However, it must be clear and understood that an officer may use maximum/deadly force when his/her life or the life of a third party is in eminent danger.” She said in such cases officers must make a split-second decisions or risk losing their own lives.
Shikwambi explained that when the police arrest someone, that person is not necessarily guilty and the officers must act professionally and prevent the situation from turning violent.
Shikwambi also reminded bystanders to allow the police to carry out their duties without any hindrance.
“The Namibian Police Force remains a competent and professional force to reckon with and we thus urge the public to report without hesitation all criminality and any unbecoming behaviour by police officers to the nearest police station commander.”
Meanwhile, the police have also warned they will not tolerate threats from the community following the shooting incident. There have apparently been threats that policemen entering the Dolam area will be harmed.
ELLANIE SMIT
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