Defence asks for 18 years
Karibib mom killer faces sentencing
A defence lawyer representing Siegfried Uirab who axed his mother to death told Judge Christie Liebenberg that an 18-year imprisonment term for murder with direct intent was reasonable.
Titus Ipumbu who is representing Uirab also proposed an 18-month jail term for assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm and a further six-month term for assault by threat. He requested these sentences to run concurrently.
“An 18-year prison term is appropriate and enough because he can come back to community as a reformed person,” Ipumbu argued.
Uirab in an unprovoked attack killed his mother Erica Uiras at Karibib on 21 November 2013. He was found guilty of threatening to kill his cousin, Lizette Uiras as well as attempting to murder, Ruth Uiras, who tried to intervene.
State Prosecutor Felisitas Shikerete argued that it is sad that the deceased lost her life at the hands of her own son.
According to her, the deceased was there to support him. She used to accompany Uirab to collect medicine.
“The same accused in full view of other siblings and grandchildren hacked her to death,” she argued and added that he is a danger to society.
Shikerete said while the State appreciates the fact that the accused was also found to have diminished criminal capacity, it is only a mitigating factor that is far outweighed by the aggravating factors.
The result of the psychiatric observation found that Uirab was fit to stand trial. The State psychiatrist, Dr Hileni Mekondjo Ndjaba, in her report which was submitted by prosecution as evidence, found that Uirab is accountable for the crimes he committed.
The psychiatric report also confirmed that Uirab has diminished criminal capacity when he uses cannabis.
Ipumbu requested the court in meting out the sentence to take into account these findings.
When Judge Liebenberg questioned whether the accused at the age of 26 years should still be regarded as youthful and remarked that should it be used on a person under the age of 21, Ipumbu said, at the time Uirab committed the offence he was 22.
“At the time of the commission of the crimes my client was 22 years and is now 26 years. It is a fact the court must take into account when meting out the sentence,” Ipumbu pleaded.
Liebenberg asked what weight should be attached to Uirab’s diminished criminal capacity; Shikerete argued that the 18-year imprisonment term for murder with direct intent is a travesty of justice.
Liebenberg postponed the matter for sentence to 10 November.
FRED GOEIEMAN
Titus Ipumbu who is representing Uirab also proposed an 18-month jail term for assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm and a further six-month term for assault by threat. He requested these sentences to run concurrently.
“An 18-year prison term is appropriate and enough because he can come back to community as a reformed person,” Ipumbu argued.
Uirab in an unprovoked attack killed his mother Erica Uiras at Karibib on 21 November 2013. He was found guilty of threatening to kill his cousin, Lizette Uiras as well as attempting to murder, Ruth Uiras, who tried to intervene.
State Prosecutor Felisitas Shikerete argued that it is sad that the deceased lost her life at the hands of her own son.
According to her, the deceased was there to support him. She used to accompany Uirab to collect medicine.
“The same accused in full view of other siblings and grandchildren hacked her to death,” she argued and added that he is a danger to society.
Shikerete said while the State appreciates the fact that the accused was also found to have diminished criminal capacity, it is only a mitigating factor that is far outweighed by the aggravating factors.
The result of the psychiatric observation found that Uirab was fit to stand trial. The State psychiatrist, Dr Hileni Mekondjo Ndjaba, in her report which was submitted by prosecution as evidence, found that Uirab is accountable for the crimes he committed.
The psychiatric report also confirmed that Uirab has diminished criminal capacity when he uses cannabis.
Ipumbu requested the court in meting out the sentence to take into account these findings.
When Judge Liebenberg questioned whether the accused at the age of 26 years should still be regarded as youthful and remarked that should it be used on a person under the age of 21, Ipumbu said, at the time Uirab committed the offence he was 22.
“At the time of the commission of the crimes my client was 22 years and is now 26 years. It is a fact the court must take into account when meting out the sentence,” Ipumbu pleaded.
Liebenberg asked what weight should be attached to Uirab’s diminished criminal capacity; Shikerete argued that the 18-year imprisonment term for murder with direct intent is a travesty of justice.
Liebenberg postponed the matter for sentence to 10 November.
FRED GOEIEMAN
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