Family demands no bail for alleged killer

A group of family members supported by neighbours and some residents of Katutura’s Greenwell Matongo staged a peaceful march to the premises of the Katutura Magistrate’s Court and handed over a petition to the regional court control prosecutor.

They are requesting the court to not grant bail to the accused Mathew Augusto Shipena.

Shipena allegedly set a shack on fire resulting in the death of his girlfriend Aulelia Thomas.

Aulelia’s sister, Hilda Thomas, sustained serious burn wounds in the fire for which she is still being treated at the Windhoek Central Hospital.

The accused allegedly set alight the shack with the two women inside in July and is now facing murder, attempted murder and arson charges in court.

Aulelia who was a student at the International University of Management (IUM) had a three-year-old son, fathered by the accused.

“He had been abusing her physically, emotionally and psychologically. On many occasions he threatened to kill her should she leave him,” the petition alleges.

The family in the petition said it would it would be an injustice to grant Shipena bail considering the fact that the family lost a child who was concerned with her education.

“Her goal was to study and be successful one day in order to help her parents and siblings out,” the family argued in the petition.

They further maintained that it would not be safe for Hilda if Shipena is released. They allege he may try to kill Hilda to erase all evidence and that he is also capable of hurting other family members.

According to them, Shipena owns a pistol which he previously used to threatened Hilda and her siblings whenever he abused Aulelia. He allegedly also threatened any family member, should they report him and he gets arrested, with death.

“Therefore we the family members of the deceased currently fear for our lives should Shipena be released on bail,” the petition reads.