Wife killer jailed for 27 years
The Windhoek High Court has expressed deep concern over the welfare of four children, whose lives have been drastically affected by their father brutally murdering the woman that gave birth to three of them.
While imposing an effective 27-year sentence on 45-year-old Johannes Jacobs, Judge Dinnah Usiku said the jail term will undoubtedly have an impact on the lives of the four children who are dependent on their father.
“That is inevitable and unfortunately it is one of the consequences of the crime,” Usiku said.
She sentenced Jacobs, who was employed as a security guard, to 30 years while suspending three years of his jail term for five years on condition that he is not convicted of murder, culpable homicide or any violent offence during the period of suspension.
Jacobs was convicted of killing wife, Sophia Lucia Jacobs (41), by stabbing her 12 times with a knife in the chest and back at Blouwes Primary School on 18 June 2014 in the Keetmanshoop area, where he was employed as a security guard.
He had fled the scene. She died the next day due to the injuries sustained in the knife attack.
Jacobs married the deceased during 2000 and they have children aged 11, 15 and 19. Another child was born to another woman after the death of the deceased and is 18 months old.
All the children are being cared for by an older sister of the accused. He was also involved in caring for the recent baby, as the mother allegedly used to neglect the baby.
Usiku said the accused regretted the murder and had asked for forgiveness from his children.
She said Jacobs had subsequently denied he asked for forgiveness, because he wanted to persuade the court to show him mercy on the grounds that he was not the sole cause of her death.
The judge said the accused and the deceased had experienced marital problems.
“The best he could have done was to let her go. After all, she had already left he matrimonial home. It appeared the deceased no longer wanted the accused as a husband.”
Usiku said it is in the interest of society that the punishment meted out was neither too severe nor too lenient.
She, however, said the sentence the court imposed will undoubtedly have a drastic effect on the lives of those who are dependent on the accused for their livelihood.
FRED GOEIEMAN
While imposing an effective 27-year sentence on 45-year-old Johannes Jacobs, Judge Dinnah Usiku said the jail term will undoubtedly have an impact on the lives of the four children who are dependent on their father.
“That is inevitable and unfortunately it is one of the consequences of the crime,” Usiku said.
She sentenced Jacobs, who was employed as a security guard, to 30 years while suspending three years of his jail term for five years on condition that he is not convicted of murder, culpable homicide or any violent offence during the period of suspension.
Jacobs was convicted of killing wife, Sophia Lucia Jacobs (41), by stabbing her 12 times with a knife in the chest and back at Blouwes Primary School on 18 June 2014 in the Keetmanshoop area, where he was employed as a security guard.
He had fled the scene. She died the next day due to the injuries sustained in the knife attack.
Jacobs married the deceased during 2000 and they have children aged 11, 15 and 19. Another child was born to another woman after the death of the deceased and is 18 months old.
All the children are being cared for by an older sister of the accused. He was also involved in caring for the recent baby, as the mother allegedly used to neglect the baby.
Usiku said the accused regretted the murder and had asked for forgiveness from his children.
She said Jacobs had subsequently denied he asked for forgiveness, because he wanted to persuade the court to show him mercy on the grounds that he was not the sole cause of her death.
The judge said the accused and the deceased had experienced marital problems.
“The best he could have done was to let her go. After all, she had already left he matrimonial home. It appeared the deceased no longer wanted the accused as a husband.”
Usiku said it is in the interest of society that the punishment meted out was neither too severe nor too lenient.
She, however, said the sentence the court imposed will undoubtedly have a drastic effect on the lives of those who are dependent on the accused for their livelihood.
FRED GOEIEMAN
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