Senior police officer on trial for murder applies for bail

WINDHOEK, 02 MAY  – A senior Namibian Police Force (NamPol) officer accused of shooting dead a learner and wounding a woman at Gobabis in March 2016, wants to be released on bail.
Police Detective Inspector Lazarus Oscar Awaseb, 49, on Wednesday brought a formal bail application before High Court Judge Johanna Salionga in which he asked the court to release him on bail, arguing that police investigations into the case are now complete and he does not understand why the State still keeps him in custody.
Awaseb, through his defence lawyer Mese Tjituri, told the court that he will not abscond from Namibia to other countries in efforts to evade prosecution because he has no family or relatives living outside the country.
He said he will be living with his new girlfriend, Angelika Garises, at her house at the Saamstaan informal settlement of Nau-Aib in Okahandja, should the court approve his bail request.
According to Awaseb, he also wants the court to grant him bail in order for him to assist his family members who are reportedly now in a tough financial situation as a result of his incarceration.
Meanwhile, State Advocate Cliff Lutibezi strongly requested the court not to release Awaseb on bail because he faces very serious charges and it would not be in the interest of the public or the administration of justice to set the accused free at this time.
Awaseb was the head of NamPol’s Criminal Investigations Unit at Gobabis at the time of the shooting incident.
He faces charges of murder, attempted murder, negligent discharge of a firearm, possession of firearm and ammunition without a licence, malicious damage to property and theft.
Awaseb is accused of shooting and wounding his girlfriend, Mildred Haoses, 22, and killing 18-year-old Odilo Rathebe Motonane on 22 March 2016.
The prosecution alleges that the romantic relationship between Awaseb and Haoses developed during 2015 and at that stage, Haoses was apparently already involved in a relationship with Motonane.
It is further alleged that Haoses terminated her relationship with Awaseb in March 2016 and that the police officer was not happy about it.
He then allegedly showed up at her shack in the early morning hours of 22 March 2016 and apparently found her in bed with the teenager.
The detective inspector allegedly first shot Motonane dead before shooting Haoses three times in the hip and thigh. She managed to flee from the shack.
Awaseb is alleged to have then shot himself in the shoulder.
He remains in police custody at the Hosea Kutako International Airport Police holding cells, pending the finalisation of his formal bail application.
The bail hearing is set down for Wednesday and Thursday.

NAMPA