Alleged double killer, Nicodemus denies killing women

WINDHOEK, 22 OCT – A Windhoek resident accused of killing two women and burning their bodies at a dumpsite in the capital in January 2016, on Monday denied committing the brutal offences.
At the start of his double murder trial on Monday, the 48-year-old Lukas Nicodemus told presiding High Court Judge Christie Liebenberg he was not responsible for the deaths of Windhoek residents Johanie Naruses, 29, and Clemensia de Wee, 23, and had no knowledge of the incident.
The two victims’ partially burnt bodies were discovered at a dumpsite near Pionierspark by a security guard who was working in the area during the period of 06 and 07 January 2016.
Nicodemus vehemently denied committing the offences when he entered not guilty pleas to the two charges of murder, a charge of obstructing the course of justice and a count of illegal possession of a firearm without a valid licence to possess such a weapon.
He, however, did not disclose the basis of his not guilty pleas and challenged the prosecution to prove each and every element of the allegations contained in the charge sheet.
According to a summary of substantial facts contained in the charge sheet, the two victims’ partially burnt corpses were discovered at the dumpsite by the security guard.
Nicodemus’s black sedan was later found by police abandoned at an unnamed location.
The car is believed to have been used in the transportation of the bodies of the two women, as police found bloodstains in it.
The State further alleges that the victims’ remains were burned in an attempt to conceal the crime.
Nicodemus also underwent a 30-day psychiatric evaluation in August 2017, and was found to be fit to stand trial and understand court proceedings.
He remains in police custody at the Windhoek Central Correctional Facility’s trial-awaiting section since his arrest in January 2016 with no option to post bail, after the prosecution opposed the granting of bail on several occasions because of the seriousness of the alleged offences.
State-funded defence lawyer Mbanga Siyomuinji is appearing for Nicodemus.
The trial continues on Tuesday.
(NAMPA)