A shout for a panga, then gunshot rings out

“Bring the panga! Bring the panga!”

This was called out by someone in a room in which a Windhoek resident, Patrick Hamupunda, was killed three years ago, a state witness recounted in the High Court at Windhoek Correctional Facility this week.

Shortly after the exclamation about a panga was heard coming from the room in which Hamupunda was with a group of men that had entered a yard in the Katutura area of Windhoek, the sound of a gunshot was heard, state witness Precious Tjikundi told acting judge Kandiwapa Nembia on Wednesday during the trial of six men accused of murdering Hamupunda.

Tjikundi said after she had heard the sound of a gunshot, she saw the men who were in a room with Hamupunda passing by her room.

One of the men was carrying a panga, which he was wiping on his trousers, while another of the men was carrying a firearm, which he was spinning on one of his fingers, she said.

The men left the scene in a car with a “sky blue” colour after one of them removed the vehicle’s rear registration number plate, Tjikundi recounted.

She also said she and other people at the scene then ran to the room where Hamupunda was, where they found him lying on the floor.

Hamupunda (38), who was also known as ‘Waka’, was killed in the Katutura area of Windhoek on 13 August 2023.

The state is alleging that he was murdered by a group of men who had ganged up to kill him after he had been involved in disputes with some of them.

Hamupunda died after he had been shot in the chest and cut with a panga or knife.

The six men charged in connection with the killing are Lukas Simon (41), who is also known as ‘Big Show’ and ‘Boytjie’, Festus Nehemia (29), Lukas Andreas (28), Kleopas Amutenya (29), Felix Imfusi (31) and Modestus Wilhelm (33).

Each of them denied guilt on charges of murder, conspiring to commit kidnapping and murder, the possession of a firearm without a licence, the unlawful possession of ammunition, and defeating or obstructing the course of justice when their trial started before Nembia on Tuesday.

Defence lawyers representing the six accused said their clients elected to remain silent and would not give any plea explanations to the court after they pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Deputy prosecutor general Dominic Lisulo, who is representing the state, informed the court yesterday that he intends to present evidence about oral admissions that each of the accused made to police officers and about an alleged confession made by Andreas.

All of the defence lawyers informed the judge they are objecting to the evidence about alleged admissions and a confession.

They placed it on record that according to the accused they were not informed of their constitutional rights, such as the right to remain silent, the right not to incriminate themselves, and the right to get legal representation and apply for government-funded legal aid.

Defence lawyer Eva Maria Nangolo, representing Andreas, also said a “large group of police officers” threatened him with guns and that he did not make a confession freely and voluntarily.

Imfusi’s lawyer, Eddic Kawana, added that Imfusi is alleging he was tortured and assaulted by police officers before he made admissions that police officers suggested to him.

The trial is continuing.

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