Maria David
THE 26-year-old Sam Nauyoma Petrus, who brutally massacred his mother, his brother and one of his nieces at the Epatululo Village, was too weak to walk on his own and had to be carried into the court room by members of the Namibian Police where he was supposed to make his first appearance before a magistrate on amongst others, three counts of murder.
People who packed the public gallery of the Ohangwena Magistrate’s Court were astonished by the sudden onset of the accused person’s inability to walk or function normally. He was apparently unable to stand on his own and had to lie down in the dock as the court proceedings commenced earlier on Thursday.
Magistrate Ilge Rheent enquired from the prosecutor why the accused person was brought to court in such condition. State Prosecutor Elphins Maloboka informed the Court that the accused was supposed to be taken to the hospital on Wednesday, but that he refused any medical assistance.
Magistrate Rheent subsequently postponed the matter to Monday to allow the accused person to be taken to hospital before he could be officially informed of the charges against him. The magistrate made the order to make sure that Petrus was able to understand the charges and his rights with regard to legal representation and bail when he appears in court on Monday.
He is facing three counts of murder, one count of attempted murder, malicious damage to property and a charge of cruelty to animals.
Petrus stands accused of hacking his 61-year-old mother Vilgenia Teofelus, his 30-year-old brother Simon Petrus and his one-year-old niece Ndapandula Hafeni to death in their homestead in the village. It is alleged that Petrus attacked his family between 05:00 and 06:00 on Tuesday morning where he killed them one by one with a panga before jumping over the fence into the kraal where the family’s animals were kept. He killed seven goats and a dog.
The fourth victim, a two-year-old girl was hospitalized and is currently receiving treatment at the Oshakati Intermediate Hospital. When the attack started two other members of the family fled for their lives and sought shelter from a neighbour.
The Ohangwena Regional Police Commander,Commissioner Shinedima Shindinge, speculated that the suspect might have committed the horrendous crime while under the influence of alcohol or drugs. He said afterwards that Petrus appeared confused when he was arrested in a nearby village.
