Sheehama murder accused remain behind bars for now
New dates set for February
The bail application hearing for the seven accused in Sheehama's murder was postponed last week.
The seven people accused of murdering student Matheus Sheehama in Kuisebmond, Walvis Bay, in July 2024 will have to wait until next month to finalise their formal bail application in the Walvis Bay Magistrate’s Court.
Their bail application was postponed last week to 11, 13 and 14 February due to the state prosecutor being booked off sick on Thursday.
The formal bail application process started on Wednesday and was set to continue on Thursday.
Sheehama was allegedly assaulted and then disappeared without a trace on 27 July last year. His body was discovered at Independence Beach on 31 July.
Mervin Wapota, Jimmy !Gaeb, Romano Paulus, Enrico Gomachab, Michael Zoram Awaseb, Jessica !Gaes, who was Sheehama’s girlfriend at the time, and Moses Kandume were arrested and are facing charges of murder and obstructing the course of justice.
Advocate Slysken Makando, who represents Wapota, Paulus and Gomachab, said it’s "kind of a coincidence that the state prosecutor is sick while we are ready to proceed".
Barry Rukoro, who represents brother and sister !Gaeb and !Gaes, also indicated he is available on the proposed dates for the continuation of the bail hearings.
To continue
Albert Titus, who is representing Kandume, said the postponement was "slightly disappointing, as we desired for this matter to continue. However, we do understand the reasoning. We have no objection to the postponement.”
A separate date was set for Awaseb, who is yet to secure legal aid. He did ask the magistrate if the bail money from a previous case can be refunded to him to pay for legal aid.
Magistrate Rosalia Andima, however, advised him to approach the prosecution.
Thus far, only Wapota has testified in the formal bail application. He testified that he was merely a bystander to a fight that allegedly took place between Sheehama and Awaseb.
The State is represented by Annakleta Kandjimi.
Their bail application was postponed last week to 11, 13 and 14 February due to the state prosecutor being booked off sick on Thursday.
The formal bail application process started on Wednesday and was set to continue on Thursday.
Sheehama was allegedly assaulted and then disappeared without a trace on 27 July last year. His body was discovered at Independence Beach on 31 July.
Mervin Wapota, Jimmy !Gaeb, Romano Paulus, Enrico Gomachab, Michael Zoram Awaseb, Jessica !Gaes, who was Sheehama’s girlfriend at the time, and Moses Kandume were arrested and are facing charges of murder and obstructing the course of justice.
Advocate Slysken Makando, who represents Wapota, Paulus and Gomachab, said it’s "kind of a coincidence that the state prosecutor is sick while we are ready to proceed".
Barry Rukoro, who represents brother and sister !Gaeb and !Gaes, also indicated he is available on the proposed dates for the continuation of the bail hearings.
To continue
Albert Titus, who is representing Kandume, said the postponement was "slightly disappointing, as we desired for this matter to continue. However, we do understand the reasoning. We have no objection to the postponement.”
A separate date was set for Awaseb, who is yet to secure legal aid. He did ask the magistrate if the bail money from a previous case can be refunded to him to pay for legal aid.
Magistrate Rosalia Andima, however, advised him to approach the prosecution.
Thus far, only Wapota has testified in the formal bail application. He testified that he was merely a bystander to a fight that allegedly took place between Sheehama and Awaseb.
The State is represented by Annakleta Kandjimi.
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