State calls for conviction of ‘knife killer’

The prosecution is seeking a conviction against a 39-year-old man on trial for allegedly stabbing his girlfriend to death.

The State has argued temporary insanity was not proven by the defence in the case of murder accused Richard Goaseb.

Goaseb is currently standing trial in the Windhoek High Court on a charge of housebreaking with intent to murder and murder, read with the provisions of the Combating of Domestic Violence Act.

C harges emanate from the death of his girlfriend and mother to his three children Magdalena Swartbooi (33).

The prosecution is alleging that during the evening of 13 April 2016 in the Goreangab location, Goaseb arrived at the house of the victim armed with a knife where he kicked open the front door and rushed into the bedroom where the victim was lying on the bed.

He then proceeded to stab her seven times all over her body whereafter he carried the lifeless body of the victim to the living room and then fled the scene.

He was arrested the next day in Usakos.

During oral submission before Judge Naomi Shivute yesterday, deputy prosecutor general Karin Esterhuizen argued Goaseb’s defence that he suffered from temporary insanity on the date in question was not corroborated by any medical evidence.

“It is simply not enough for the accused to simply say that he had a black-out and it is not supported by medical evidence when we have evidence that he confessed of what he was going to do to the deceased,” said Esterhuizen.

Esterhuizen indicated the State has managed to prove beyond reasonable doubt that Goaseb is guilty of the offences he is charged with.

This Esterhuizen said is corroborated by the evidence of the victim’s sister Precious Swartbooi who accompanied the victim to the police station to open a case of assault by threat against Goaseb and by the victim’s children who were at the house on the day of the tragic incident.

Swartbooi testified that three days before her sister was stabbed to death in her home, Goaseb had made threats that he was going to stab her.

She informed the court that Goaseb followed them to the police station - armed with a knife. She further explained that they had to switch jackets with the victim in order to confuse him.

He later called Swartbooi threatening to burn her and the victim.

After the stabbing incident, Goaseb called and said that he wanted to talk to his children before he commits suicide.

Swartbooi described Goaseb as a jealousy partner who would always get angry if the victim interacted with any man.

Although Goaseb tendered a no guilty plea to the charges at the start of the trial, he opted not to take the witness stand in his defence.

His lawyer Vernon Lutibezi has, however, through crossexamination of State witnesses indicated Goaseb’s defence is a blank denial that he was not in the house he and the victim used to share or that he was the one who stabbed her.

But court records at the time he appeared in the Windhoek Magistrate’s Court, indicated he gave a statement of what transpired.

He informed the magistrate he went to the victim’s house and heard her on the phone, speaking to his male colleague about their children.

This allegedly infuriated him. He allegedly grabbed a knife from the kitchen and went to the victim’s bedroom where they wrestled before stabbing her multiple times.

His defence lawyer is set to make his submissions today before the court can give its verdict in the matter.

Goaseb is currently on bail in this matter but is in police custody for another case.

The court extended his bail until today. –