Karasburg man denies killing woman

WINDHOEK, 16 JUL  – 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, has on Monday denied committing the offence.

August van Wyk 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 when he entered not guilty pleas on the charges of murder, defeating or obstructing or attempting to defeat or obstruct the course of justice and assault, in respect of the circumstances that led to Waterboer’s death.

Van Wyk did, however, plead guilty to a charge of assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm in which he personally admitted to having kicked and hit the deceased with stones on the body that fateful day.
The accused did not offer any plea explanation in respect of the first three charges on which he pleaded not guilty and challenged the prosecution to prove the allegations against him contained in the charge sheet.

The trial was on Monday put on hold until Tuesday to allow Van Wyk’s government-funded defence lawyer Milton Engelbrecht to file a statement in terms of Section 112 of the Criminal Procedures Act of 1977, in respect of the charge his client pleaded guilty to.
Prosecution representative, State Advocate Cliff Lutibezi did not object against Monday’s postponement of the trial.
Van Wyk remains in police custody at the Windhoek Central Correctional Facility until Tuesday, when the trial continues.
NAMPA