DNA tests hold up burial of crash victims

Forensic investigations are delaying the burial of the burnt remains of two women who died in a car crash at Onankali village on July 29. The families of Anna Gustav, 19, and Christina Manya, 32, say the National Forensic Science Institute has not completed the DNA testing of the remains. Gustav and Manya were among four people who died on July 29 when a truck collided head-on with a sedan and both caught fire at Onankali village on the Ondangwa-Omuthiya main road. The bodies were burnt beyond recognition. Sarra Iyambo, who is related to both Gustav and Manya, said the two cousins were seen getting into the car before the crash. The family last week approached the Office of the Ombudsman after they were allegedly told by the Forensic Pathology Sub-Division’s Deputy Commissioner J. J Mbandeka that they would have to wait two months for the DNA test results. Iyambo said although the family had initially planned to bury the two women at their home villages, they have since decided to bury them together, as the family now only wants closure. Iyambo said she travelled to Onakale after the accident, where she was told that the bodies of her cousins would be transferred to Windhoek on August 3, with DNA testing to take place on August 4. On August 11, after inquiring about the bodies, they were told that the DNA results weren’t ready and that death certificates could not be issued, which is required for burial. Alpheus Haufiku, an investigator in the Ombudsman’s office, said all the office could do was to request the police to speed up the DNA testing. “There isn’t much we could do to help apart from just requesting the police to speed up the DNA testing and we also requested them to assist the family members with declarations to show at work that they are on compassionate leave since death certificates can only be issued after the DNA testing.” Namibian Sun contacted the head of the National Forensic Science Institute, Dr Paul Ludik, who said that the remains were moved to Okatope after a long discussion with the family. Ludik said dealing with incinerated remains is a complex process and nowhere in the world can it be done in one or two days. “It is completely false that the family were told to wait for two months because people are on leave. The remains are incinerated and we have to go the complete nine yards in terms of science,” he said. He said identifying the remains requires complex scientific analysis and that the NFSI is employing state-of-the-art equipment to do so. Ludik said the family was informed that the death certificates would be issued as soon as the forensic testing is completed. WINDHOEK GORDON JOSEPH