Shikwaya loses bail bid in Shiweda murder case

A magistrate has refused bail for a man accused of helping orchestrate the acid attack that killed Ondangwa prosecutor Justine Shiweda, ruling that financial evidence and flight risk outweighed his plea for release.

Ondangwa magistrate Kaeren Kleopas ruled on Friday that Petrus Shikwaya had failed to convince the court that his release would be in the interest of justice, citing the strength of the State's prima facie case, the seriousness of the charges, the risk of interference with the ongoing investigation and the possibility that he could abscond.

Shikwaya, who was arrested on 23 November 2025, faces charges of conspiracy to commit murder in common purpose, murder in common purpose and defeating or obstructing the course of justice.

The court heard that Shikwaya's financial transactions were allegedly used to facilitate the purchase of the acid used in the attack on Shiweda.

Police detective Chief Inspector Antonius Gabriel testified that Shikwaya transferred N$1 200 to co-accused Petrus Uusiku on 29 September 2025, following telephone communication between Shikwaya, his uncle and co-accused Abner Mewiliko Mateus, and Uusiku.

Uusiku and another accused, Johannes Nghilifavali, were allegedly at a factory in Windhoek to obtain acid around the time the payments were made.

Gabriel testified that Shikwaya allegedly transferred N$4 950 to a fugitive shortly after Shiweda was attacked on 17 October 2025. The State alleges that these transactions, together with telephone records and other evidence, point to Shikwaya’s involvement in the alleged murder conspiracy.

Kleopas stressed that the bail proceedings were not a determination of Shikwaya’s guilt or innocence. However, she found that the State had demonstrated that it had a case for Shikwaya to answer at trial, particularly on the conspiracy and murder charges.

No involvement

Shikwaya denied that he knew the money he had transferred would be used to buy acid.

He told the court that Mateus, his uncle, kept money in his accounts and regularly instructed him to make payments to various people.

He also denied any involvement in Shiweda’s murder and said he was in Windhoek on the day of the attack. He maintained that he had never met Shiweda and had no prior knowledge of any plan to kill her.

Mateus, who testified as a defence witness, supported Shikwaya’s version, saying he had instructed his nephew to make financial transactions on his behalf but had not disclosed their purpose.

The court nevertheless found that the State had established a “real and reasonably grounded risk” that Shikwaya could abscond if released.

The magistrate placed particular weight on evidence concerning an alleged escape plan discovered after Shikwaya and his co-accused were transferred from Ondangwa to Grootfontein prison.

The court noted, however, that there was no evidence that Shikwaya himself was involved in the alleged escape attempts attributed to co-accused Nghilifavali.

The court also considered the fact that the investigation remains incomplete, with an outstanding suspect, unrecovered cellular devices, an unrecovered container of acid and forensic work still outstanding.

Shikwaya, who is represented by lawyer Murray Shikongo, is the second co-accused to be denied bail in the Shiweda case. Medical doctor Fillemon 'Fly' Nakaandungile was denied bail in February.