Convicted cattle thieves appeal

Four men, who were convicted and sentenced to hefty jail periods for stealing cattle with a combined value of N$300 000 in the Otjiwarongo area, are pleading with the High Court to reconsider.

The group, which consists of Joseph Hijarunguru, Shaun Tjiute, Lazarus Kapuitanda and Stephanus Mwandingi claims the Otjiwarongo Regional Court failed to properly consider their case, as there were inconsistencies and contradictions in the testimonies of the state witnesses.

Thus, the conviction on two counts of stock theft and subsequent sentences should be set aside.

Hijarunguru is serving 20-years imprisonment, while Tjiute was sentenced to 32-years imprisonment.

Their counterparts, Mwandingi and Kapuitanda, are serving 20 and 32 years, respectively.

The group claims they were merely at the wrong place at the wrong time, and the trial court failed to consider evidence in their favour to make her judgment.

In addition, they claim the incomplete record from Otjiwarongo Regional Court will hinder the High Court from making a sound judgment.

With missing records of testimonies, they have been deprived of their right to appeal their convictions and sentences.

Before the group was convicted, their matter was on the roll for more than a decade.

They were convicted of having stolen 20 cows, valued at N$140 000, belonging to one Uwe Wieland.

The cattle were on a farm in Groot Ozombutu, Kalkfeld area.

The cows were stolen on 11 January 2010.

They were also found guilty of stealing 31 of Isak Jansen’s cows on 1 February 2010.

The cattle are valued at N$166 000.

They were stolen near farm Remine in the area of Okahandja.

On Friday, judge Kobus Miller postponed the matter to 20 May for a hearing.