Murderer Hoeseb jailed for 37 years

An Otjiwarongo man, who strangled a woman and then tried to destroy her body by setting it on fire, has been sentenced to 34 years in prison.

Ivan Hoeseb, 37, was further sentenced to one year's imprisonment for theft and to six years for attempting to defeat the course of justice.

Judge Christie Liebenberg ordered that the sentences run concurrently.

Hoeseb, father of three children with different women, was convicted of strangling Elizabeth Ganses, 26, and setting her body on fire.

The partly burnt body was found at Otjiwarongo on 3 October 2015. Hoeseb murdered Ganses, with whom he had a relationship, after she had told him she was HIV positive.

Hoeseb was also found guilty of theft. Ganses's mobile phone was found in his possession when he was arrested at Okaepe village in the Okakarara Constituency.

The judge rejected Hoeseb's version of the incident and in sentencing relied on inferences drawn from proven facts.

“Had the accused told the truth, the court would have a clearer picture as to what happened and in the absence of a motive to commit the murder it can be seen as a senseless killing, which makes the accused a danger to society,” Liebenberg said.

The judge said the seriousness of the offences and the circumstances under which they were committed justified severe punishment.

He further said it was the inescapable consequence of the crimes committed by Hoeseb that not only his children but also those of the deceased would experience some hardship during his incarceration.

“The consequences of crime usually bring about more hardship to innocent persons than what is hoped for,” the judge said.

“Unfortunately, one cannot allow one's sympathy for the accused's family deter one from imposing the kind of sentence dictated by the interest of justice and society,” he stated.

FRED GOEIEMAN