Massacre suspect under observation
The case against Rundu massacre suspect, 21-year-old Jesaya Gabriel Chuhunda, has been postponed until late next month, as the court is still waiting for a mental observation report.
Chuhunda is accused of murdering five of his family members at Rundu's Ndama location in July last year.
He was expected to appear in the Rundu Magistrate's Court on Tuesday, but was not brought to court because he is still under mental observation in Windhoek.
Magistrate Sonia Samupofu postponed the matter to 27 June.
Chuhunda was arrested on 1 July last year after allegedly killing his grandmother, Ndongo Ntumba (77), his mother Ndara Elizabeth Mpande (46) and his three nephews Musenge Petrus Muruti (six), Hausiku Daniel Kapumburu (four) and Musenge Elias Tjingelesu (three).
According to the police, Chuhunda went berserk when his sister refused to give him money.
“The motive behind the suspect's actions is allegedly that he demanded to be given money earlier during the day. However, the money was not given to him and as a result he assaulted the sister. The sister went to report the matter to the police and that agitated the suspect, who then assaulted his family, killing them instantly with a stick,” the crime report said at the time.
It was further alleged that Chuhunda is a drug user and could be mentally challenged.
The case also resulted in two senior police officers, then station commander Chief Inspector Andreas Mushongo Haingura, and Chief Inspector Eberhard Muyambo, being found guilty of negligence, after the police did not respond adequately prior to the killings.
It was alleged that Chuhunda's sister called the police shortly before the killings, but they did not respond as there was no transport available. It was on this basis that an internal investigation was carried out.
Haingura and Muyambo were fined N$1 500 each, while Haingura was redeployed to the Kavango East regional police headquarters.
KENYA KAMBOWE
Chuhunda is accused of murdering five of his family members at Rundu's Ndama location in July last year.
He was expected to appear in the Rundu Magistrate's Court on Tuesday, but was not brought to court because he is still under mental observation in Windhoek.
Magistrate Sonia Samupofu postponed the matter to 27 June.
Chuhunda was arrested on 1 July last year after allegedly killing his grandmother, Ndongo Ntumba (77), his mother Ndara Elizabeth Mpande (46) and his three nephews Musenge Petrus Muruti (six), Hausiku Daniel Kapumburu (four) and Musenge Elias Tjingelesu (three).
According to the police, Chuhunda went berserk when his sister refused to give him money.
“The motive behind the suspect's actions is allegedly that he demanded to be given money earlier during the day. However, the money was not given to him and as a result he assaulted the sister. The sister went to report the matter to the police and that agitated the suspect, who then assaulted his family, killing them instantly with a stick,” the crime report said at the time.
It was further alleged that Chuhunda is a drug user and could be mentally challenged.
The case also resulted in two senior police officers, then station commander Chief Inspector Andreas Mushongo Haingura, and Chief Inspector Eberhard Muyambo, being found guilty of negligence, after the police did not respond adequately prior to the killings.
It was alleged that Chuhunda's sister called the police shortly before the killings, but they did not respond as there was no transport available. It was on this basis that an internal investigation was carried out.
Haingura and Muyambo were fined N$1 500 each, while Haingura was redeployed to the Kavango East regional police headquarters.
KENYA KAMBOWE
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