Murder suspect planned to burn court – state
The state has alleged that murder suspect Abner Mateus planned to burn down the Ondangwa Magistrate’s Court and arrange for his court docket to be stolen after two unsuccessful bail applications. During court proceedings yesterday, public prosecutor Yeukai Kangira told the court that Mateus had also attempted to persuade the pensioner who laid a fraud […] The post Murder suspect planned to burn court – state appeared first on The Namibian.
Black News 
The state has alleged that murder suspect Abner Mateus planned to burn down the Ondangwa Magistrate’s Court and arrange for his court docket to be stolen after two unsuccessful bail applications.
During court proceedings yesterday, public prosecutor Yeukai Kangira told the court that Mateus had also attempted to persuade the pensioner who laid a fraud complaint against him to withdraw the case that has kept him in custody since November 2022.
Mateus is accused of masterminding, from prison, the murder of Ondangwa prosecutor Justine Shiweda, who was shot and doused with acid on 17 October last year, three days before he was due to return to court on fraud charges.
According to Kangira, Mateus was initially arrested after allegedly defrauding a pensioner of N$70 000 in 2022.
“You recruited co-accused persons to murder Justine after your two bail bids failed, after you failed to have the complainant withdraw the case, after your plan to burn down this court failed and after you failed to have your docket stolen from this court,” Kangira told the accused.
Mateus denied the allegations, maintaining that he had no involvement in the prosecutor’s attack.
“I am not involved in the matter. I am not a murderer and I do not intend to kill anyone,” he said.
Kangira further alleged that Mateus contacted his co-accused and medical doctor, Fillemon Nakanduungile, minutes after Shiweda was shot and informed him about the attack.
Mateus denies making such a call.
During the proceedings, Kangira reminded the accused that Shiweda had lost her life and had already been laid to rest.
“May her soul rest in peace, your worship,” Mateus responded.
Questioning Mateus further, Kangira asked what kind of Christians could orchestrate such a crime.
She added that Shiweda had simply been carrying out her duties as a prosecutor by helping to keep dangerous individuals like Mateus away from society.
Mateus agreed that the attack on Shiweda was “barbaric” and said those responsible posed a danger to society.
“You recruited co-accused persons to make sure Justine does not come and stand in this court by killing her.
That is what I am putting to you,” Kangira said.
However, Mateus continued to deny any involvement in the murder.
The post Murder suspect planned to burn court – state appeared first on The Namibian.
