Paulinum murder accused punches journalist

The man accused of murdering his girlfriend last weekend at Paulinum college assaulted a journalist yesterday after he was allowed to leave the Windhoek Magistrate’s Court without wearing handcuffs. The accused, Andre Dausab, a former graphic designer at a local newspaper, has been referred for mental observation and will remain in custody. Dausab, a graduate in Media Arts and Technology from the College of the Arts, stands accused of murdering 32-year-old Motlamme Gofaone, who was a theology student at the United Lutheran Theological Seminary Paulinum Campus. Gofaone was stabbed at least nine times and her throat was slit on Saturday. Dausab turned himself in to the police on the same day. While Dausab was being escorted back to the holding cells yesterday after his first court appearance, he suddenly attacked Allgemeine Zeitung journalist Marc Springer, who was taking photographs. Dausab punched Springer in the face, knocking him down. Police officers hastily removed Dausab, followed by a crowd of his friends and family, while his lawyer, Gilroy Kasper, tried to remedy the situation in front of the cells by speaking to police officers including Deputy Commissioner Sylvanus Nghishidimbwa. “The accused became violent first,” officers could be heard saying to Kasper, while Dausab’s supporters could be heard blaming the media for what happened. A woman who identified herself as Dausab’s mother apologised for her son’s behaviour. Nghishidimbwa said the incident was unacceptable and in cases such as these the public as well as the media should be protected. He said it was up to Springer whether to press charges. Journalists questioned why the suspect was not handcuffed when he was taken to court and back to the cells. Nghishidimbwa admitted that prisoners are supposed to be handcuffed when they are escorted to court from their cells, as anything could happen. During Dausab’s court appearance the State, represented by public prosecutor Eric Naikaku, requested that the matter be postponed for further investigation. The State objected to bail due to the serious nature of the offence, the public interest and the risk of the accused absconding. Kasper said he had instructions from his client to make submissions in terms of section 77 of the Mental Health Act because his client’s state of mind was not good. Asked by Magistrate Jermaine Muchali on what basis the application was being made, Kasper said he would be divulging privileged information if he answered that, adding that the application was for the accused to be referred to a psychiatrist. The magistrate referred Dausab for mental observation, which takes 30 days, and the matter was postponed until March 24 for a mental observation report. Should there be no space for Dausab in a psychiatric facility and he is not observed within the 30 days, the court will take another decision.