Samuel Shinedima
“My actions have affected a lot of people, and I would like to apologize. It was not intentional. I wish I had spoken earlier. At times I feel like I have lost my principles. I shocked everyone, and I shocked myself too, considering the way I handled it.”
These were the words of the emotionally distraught and murder-accused Azaan Madisia during her testimony during the examination-in-chief before High Court Judge Christie Liebenberg. Madisia is being tried on the allegations of murder with charges of trying to obstruct the ends of justice by disposing the body of Shannon Wasserfall into the dunes.
Wasserfall disappeared in April 2020, and her remains were discovered months later, buried in a shallow grave. Madisia’s arrest followed a text sent to the police and the deceased’s father, guiding them to where the remains of Wasserfall could be found.
Madisia testified that her friend (the deceased) died in an accident during a quarrel they had while hanging out at her flat, and that the thoughts of being arrested overpowered her.
“The thought of it when the incident happened was shocking. The person died in my flat, and it was just the two of us, so I thought that no one would believe that it was just an accident. I was just a coward and fearful of the questions that might come afterwards,” she testified.
“I also apologise to the little boy (the deceased’s child). I don’t know how he will be able to look me in the eyes again because he is really close to my heart. I was being inconsiderate and being a coward, and I am ready to take full responsibility,” she added.
The 31-year-old rejected the allegations from the state that she and her younger brother, Steven Mulundu, conspired in assaulting Wasserfall with an intention to end her life, adding that everything happened after an altercation broke out between them in which the deceased pushed her and that she pushed her back, which in her view was just an unfortunate accident.
“I pushed her with the intention of stopping her and stopping the situation from escalating into uncontrollable turmoil. There were no plans to assault her. We just got into a fight, and I pushed her after she pushed me. It was just a human thing to unconsciously retaliate, but this time it was unfortunate,” Madisia testified.
Madisia said that although nothing she says can change what happened or soothe the deceased’s loved ones’ sorrow, she feels the need to apologise because of the friendship she shared with the deceased and what her actions caused.
Her trial, along with that of her brother, is currently underway in the High Court of Namibia. She is being represented by Albert Titus, while Henry Muhongo represents the state.
