Stoop murder trial to continue in April
The illness of a defence lawyer this week led to the postponement of the High Court trial of three people accused of killing 78-year-old Gideon Johannes (Koos) Stoop.
The trial will continue on 3 April.
Lawyer Boris Isaack was booked off for an eye infection.
“He cannot read and thus is not able to prepare for the case due to the severity of the medical condition,” his colleague, Louis Karsten, representing the female accused, Nelsiene Utiapatie Kauaria, informed the court.
The other lawyer, Monty Karuaihe, who is based at the coast, also asked to be excused because the case was likely to be postponed.
Kauaria (31), together with brothers George Tjikuao Katjingisua (33) and Erwin Katjingisua (32), are charged with murder, robbery with aggravating circumstances, attempted robbery with aggravating circumstances and conspiracy to commit robbery with aggravating circumstances.
They allegedly killed Stoop at his flat in Shilunga Street, Cimbebasia, a residential suburb of Windhoek, on 28 or 29 August 2009.
They allegedly assaulted Stoop by hitting, kicking and stabbing him after tying his hands and feet and stuffing a T-shirt deep into his mouth.
They are further accused of robbing the deceased of a Tedelex television set, a Panasonic car radio/tape, a Wahl hair clipper and a Nokia cellphone.
The defence is expected to present their case before Judge Alfred Siboleka. It is not clear whether the accused will testify in their own defence, call witnesses or leave their fate in the hands of the judge.
Earlier the case had been bogged down by a lengthy trial-within-a-trial involving the admissibility of some statements and confessions.
The court upheld Kauaria's objection against the admissibility of a statement taken down by the police and a confession she had made to Magistrate Alexis Diergaardt.
However, it ruled that the pointing-out of the crime scene by Erwin Katjingisua was admissible as evidence.
A non-incriminatory statement Kauaria made to Sergeant Billy Kamusivise when they first met at the Katutura police station was also ruled as admissible.
The trial will continue on 3 April.
Lawyer Boris Isaack was booked off for an eye infection.
“He cannot read and thus is not able to prepare for the case due to the severity of the medical condition,” his colleague, Louis Karsten, representing the female accused, Nelsiene Utiapatie Kauaria, informed the court.
The other lawyer, Monty Karuaihe, who is based at the coast, also asked to be excused because the case was likely to be postponed.
Kauaria (31), together with brothers George Tjikuao Katjingisua (33) and Erwin Katjingisua (32), are charged with murder, robbery with aggravating circumstances, attempted robbery with aggravating circumstances and conspiracy to commit robbery with aggravating circumstances.
They allegedly killed Stoop at his flat in Shilunga Street, Cimbebasia, a residential suburb of Windhoek, on 28 or 29 August 2009.
They allegedly assaulted Stoop by hitting, kicking and stabbing him after tying his hands and feet and stuffing a T-shirt deep into his mouth.
They are further accused of robbing the deceased of a Tedelex television set, a Panasonic car radio/tape, a Wahl hair clipper and a Nokia cellphone.
The defence is expected to present their case before Judge Alfred Siboleka. It is not clear whether the accused will testify in their own defence, call witnesses or leave their fate in the hands of the judge.
Earlier the case had been bogged down by a lengthy trial-within-a-trial involving the admissibility of some statements and confessions.
The court upheld Kauaria's objection against the admissibility of a statement taken down by the police and a confession she had made to Magistrate Alexis Diergaardt.
However, it ruled that the pointing-out of the crime scene by Erwin Katjingisua was admissible as evidence.
A non-incriminatory statement Kauaria made to Sergeant Billy Kamusivise when they first met at the Katutura police station was also ruled as admissible.
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