Eba Kandovazu
HILDE Kalola, the 40-year-old woman who was arrested following last week’s shocking discovery of remains in an Omahangu field purported to be that of her nephew, told the court that she is not guilty of murder when she made a brief appearance at the Ohangwena Magistrate’s Court this morning.
Kalola is accused of murdering her 16-year-old nephew, Johannes Nghilifavali, in December 2018 by assaulting and torturing him while he was tied up.
The incident happened at a village in the Ohangwena Region.
It has been reported that Nghilifavali was murdered in connection with a missing N$650.
It is also reported that his younger siblings dug his grave, although they were not informed at the time that their brother was dead and that he would be buried in the hole.
His mother, according to reports, was also made to believe that her son was sent to another farm for work.
Kalola briefly appeared before Magistrate Auguste Simon at the Ohangwena Magistrate’s Court.
She faces charges of murder, read with the provisions of the combating of the Domestic Violence Act and obstructing the course of Justice. State Prosecutor Elphins Maloboka is representing the state.
She was denied bail due to the seriousness of the offense, fear that she might interfere with investigations and that it would not be in the interest of justice, as well as public interest, to grant her bail.
Kalola indicated that she would be getting a private lawyer to defend her.
Her next court appearance is 19 May 2021, where an update on the investigations will be made.
