Botma murder case postponed to June

KEETMANSHOOP, 23 Apr – Three men who allegedly murdered an elderly couple at a farm near Koës earlier this year, made their second appearance in the Keetmanshoop Magistrate’s Court on Monday.
Julius Arndt, Andries Afrikaner and Johannes Christiaan are accused of murdering Giel Botma and his wife Sarie on their farm on the night of 02 February 2018.
The hearing, which lasted not more than six minutes, was postponed to 21 June this year by Magistrate Frans Anderson, due to the absence of defence lawyers and for further police investigations.
Arndt was in an earlier court appearance represented by Linus Samaria, Afrikaner by Stephan Coetzee and Christiaan by Florian Beukes.
The State was represented by Ndina Kaitungwa.
The three remain in custody at the Namibian Police holding cells at Keetmanshoop after they were denied bail during their first court appearance on 05 February. The court denied bail out of fear that they might abscond and because investigations were at an early stage.
All three are charged with two counts of murder, possession of a firearm without a licence, possession of ammunition, theft of a motor vehicle, and housebreaking with intent to rob and robbery.
Arndt faces an additional charge of housebreaking with intent to steal and theft.
(NAMPA)