Bus driver in IUM student murder to stand trial in High Court

WINDHOEK, 31 JUL  – A long-distance bus driver who stands accused of killing his girlfriend, International University of Management (IUM) student Iyaloo Ndapandula Hainghumbi in January last year, will stand trial in the High Court.
Court documents availed to Nampa on Tuesday show that Victor Elia made his final appearance in the Windhoek Magistrate’s Court in Katutura last week, when his murder case was transferred from that court to the Windhoek High Court.
The 37-year-old Elia is scheduled to make his first appearance in the High Court on 20 September 2018. His case was transferred as per a decision taken by the Office of the Prosecutor-General.
The accused has been in police custody since his arrest in January 2017, with no option to post bail after the court refused to release him on bail due to the seriousness and complexity of the charge he is facing.
He is facing a charge of murder read with the provisions of the Combating of Domestic Violence Act of 2003 in respect of the circumstances that led to Hainghumbi’s death.
Hainghumbi’s corpse was discovered near the B1 main road to Okahandja between 13 and 14 January 2017.
The prosecution alleges that Elia murdered her by hitting her on the head numerous times with an unknown object after which he then allegedly dumped the body on the side of the road.
It is further alleged that he was not happy after learning that Hainghumbi wanted to end their three-year-long relationship.
He was also the last person to see the deceased alive.
However, during his failed formal bail application before court last year, Elia denied being involved in Hainghumbi’s death.
He told the court that he only met with her briefly on 13 January 2017 and he did not know what happened to her thereafter.
Public prosecutor Victoria Thompson represented the State when Elia’s case was transferred to the Windhoek High Court.
He appeared in person with no legal representation.
(NAMPA)