Karasburg resident denies killing girlfriend

WINDHOEK, 03 SEP – A resident of Karasburg in the //Kharas Region who is on trial in the High Court for allegedly killing his girlfriend by kicking and hitting her with stones in August 2014, on Monday denied committing the offence.
August van Wyk, 50, is accused of brutally killing his girlfriend, Katrina Waterboer by kicking her and hitting her with stones at Westerkim residential area in Karasburg during the period of 29 and 30 August 2014.
He denied committing the offences in his evidence-in-chief before High Court Judge Nate Ndauendapo on Monday morning in respect of the circumstances that led to Waterboer’s death.
“I have never killed my deceased girlfriend- Katrina Waterboer. I have never used any object to hit the deceased on the body and I did not kick her on the body that fateful day,” Van Wyk told the court.
Furthermore, the accused dismissed the evidence by several State witnesses that he had ordered one of his relative to wash the deceased’s body and hid her clothes under the bed in a failed attempt to get rid of the crucial evidence.
Van Wyk also dismissed statements by the police investigating officers that he informed them while at the Karasburg charge office that his late girlfriend was allegedly murdered by unknown persons.
Meanwhile, the accused did admit that he beat the deceased person about three times with his belt on the body because he was angry with her after she repeatedly told him that his parents had allegedly died as a result of HIV/Aids related illness.
On 16 July 2018, Van Wyk entered not guilty pleas on the charges of murder, defeating, obstructing or attempting to defeat or obstruct the course of justice, as well as assualt in connection with the circumstances that led to Waterboer’s death.
However, Van Wyk pleaded guilty to a charge of assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm.
Government-funded defence lawyer Milton Engelbrecht represents Van Wyk, while State Advocate, Cliff Lutibezi appeared for the prosecution.
Van Wyk remains in police custody at the Windhoek Central Correctional Facility.
Trial continues on Tuesday.

NAMPA