Staff Reporter
THE trial of three Zimbabwean nationals implicated in the murder of Akundaishe Natalie Chipomho in 2020 is expected to resume shortly after they made a brief court appearance on Tuesday morning.
The trial was put on hold after the state obtained evidence linking Rachel Kureva, Chipombo’s biological mother, to her child’s death and requested that her case be joined with that of the initial suspects.
The initial suspects are Chipombo’s biological father, Edward Nkata, and the victim’s stepmother, Caroline Nkata. They are suspected of murdering Chipomho and disposing of her body in a rubbish bin in Windhoek West in January 2020 before setting fire to it.
According to the state, the police obtained a statement from the 14-year-old son of Nkata and Caroline, which led to the arrest of Kureva. As for the case, the three Zimbabwean nationals are jointly charged and will face a combined trial for murder.
The Nkatas are also accused of attempting to kill Edward’s then-11-year-old son by striking him with a belt and an unknown weapon all over his body between January 20 and 22, 2020.
The trio will stand trial before High Court Judge Philanda Christiaan, and a date will be set in due course.
