Man maintains innocence in lover's death
A Keetmanshoop man accused of killing his girlfriend about four years ago is persisting in claiming innocence, saying he was not present went the murder took place.
Andrew Britz last week told High Court Judge Christie Liebenberg that there was no problem between him and the victim, Juliana Sarvanda Garises, also known as Moekie.
“There was no problem between me and Moekie. I do not know why State witnesses are accusing me of being involved because I was not there when she was stabbed,” he said.
Britz (58)is charged with murdering Garises in a fit of rage after she had ended their relationship. He is accused of having stabbed Garises eight times in her neck, upper body and arms in Krönlein, Keetmanshoop, between 11 and 12 December 2013.
Britz testified that the owner of the house where the murder was committed, Christiana Minnies, had instructed Garises's former boyfriend, Petrus Pous Swartbooi, not to come to her home “because she didn't want problems”.
“It was at the time when the romantic relationship between me and the late Garises started,” he said.
He added that Swartbooi was constantly threatening Garises whenever he walked past her house.
“I always told Moekie not to respond to the threats as I understand that the man was not satisfied by the fact that she ended their relationship and started dating me,” Britz claimed.
Britz further testified that he found Swartbooi at the victim's house on the day of the murder.
Swartbooi reportedly told him that she was not at home.
Garises later emerged with no injuries, Britz testified. At that point, he said, Garises asked him politely to go to his house and come back the next day.
Last week the senior medical officer at the Keetmanshoop State Hospital, Dr Maksym Verkusha, who performed the post-mortem, told the court that three stab wounds to Garises's chest penetrated the chest cavity and led to more than 200ml blood loss, which killed her.
The trial continues.
FRED GOEIEMAN
Andrew Britz last week told High Court Judge Christie Liebenberg that there was no problem between him and the victim, Juliana Sarvanda Garises, also known as Moekie.
“There was no problem between me and Moekie. I do not know why State witnesses are accusing me of being involved because I was not there when she was stabbed,” he said.
Britz (58)is charged with murdering Garises in a fit of rage after she had ended their relationship. He is accused of having stabbed Garises eight times in her neck, upper body and arms in Krönlein, Keetmanshoop, between 11 and 12 December 2013.
Britz testified that the owner of the house where the murder was committed, Christiana Minnies, had instructed Garises's former boyfriend, Petrus Pous Swartbooi, not to come to her home “because she didn't want problems”.
“It was at the time when the romantic relationship between me and the late Garises started,” he said.
He added that Swartbooi was constantly threatening Garises whenever he walked past her house.
“I always told Moekie not to respond to the threats as I understand that the man was not satisfied by the fact that she ended their relationship and started dating me,” Britz claimed.
Britz further testified that he found Swartbooi at the victim's house on the day of the murder.
Swartbooi reportedly told him that she was not at home.
Garises later emerged with no injuries, Britz testified. At that point, he said, Garises asked him politely to go to his house and come back the next day.
Last week the senior medical officer at the Keetmanshoop State Hospital, Dr Maksym Verkusha, who performed the post-mortem, told the court that three stab wounds to Garises's chest penetrated the chest cavity and led to more than 200ml blood loss, which killed her.
The trial continues.
FRED GOEIEMAN
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