Sheehama murder accused wants bail
Formal bail application underway
One of the seven persons accused of murdering student Matheus Sheehama says he was an innocent bystander.
The seven people accused of murdering student Matheus Sheehama in Kuisebmond, Walvis Bay, in July 2024 brought a formal bail application before the Walvis Bay Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday.
Sheehama was allegedly assaulted and then disappeared without a trace on 27 July. His body was discovered at Independence Beach days later, on 31 July.
Seven suspects were arrested for murder and obstructing the course of justice. They are Mervin Wapota, Jimmy Gaeb, Romano Paulus, Enrico Gomachab, Michael Zoram Awaseb, Jessica !Gaes (who was Sheehama’s girlfriend at the time) and Moses Kandume.
Appearing before magistrate Rosalia Andima, the accused, with the exception of Michael Awaseb, indicated that they have secured legal representation and wish to continue with the formal bail application.
Mervin Wapota (21) indicated he will plead not guilty to all charges.
Testimony given
During cross-examination by his lawyer, advocate Slysken Makando, Wapota said he visited the house where the alleged assault took place on the night in question because he wanted to see his friend and co-accused, Jimmy !Gaeb.
“I just wanted to quickly pop in, as I am quite close with his mother. I found Jessica, Matheus, Jimmy and Michael sitting outside, where I greeted them and went inside to Jimmy’s room. There were also other people in the house. I greeted them and thereafter went to the tuck shop. When I came back, I found Matheus standing on a bench, with Jessica in the middle of him and Michael. Jimmy was being held back by someone else (not one of the accused).”
He explained he went inside the house again, and when he returned outside, there was "chaos".
"I found Michael on top of the deceased and Jessica was throwing water on Michael. I went to stand outside the yard with Jimmy’s child in my hands. Later on, while standing there, Jessica, Matheus and another friend were busy coming out of the yard when Michael came running to Sheehama again and tripped him. The street was full of people again, and I went back into the yard and do not know what happened thereafter.”
Wapota claimed that Jessica and a friend returned at a later stage.
“She (Jessica) said that they put Sheehama in a taxi. After a while, everyone left, and it was just me, Jimmy and three more lady friends at Jimmy’s house.”
He said he told the police his story and was presumably arrested by the police “because he was a bystander. If it had not been for me informing the people of what was happening, chaos would not have taken place.”
He added that if he should be granted bail with conditions, he would adhere to them.
“I would be at home, as I am safer at home than in custody.”
Wapota, who is currently unemployed, indicated that his parents would be able to afford N$3 000 to N$4 000 bail.
The bail application hearing is set to continue on Thursday.
Sheehama was allegedly assaulted and then disappeared without a trace on 27 July. His body was discovered at Independence Beach days later, on 31 July.
Seven suspects were arrested for murder and obstructing the course of justice. They are Mervin Wapota, Jimmy Gaeb, Romano Paulus, Enrico Gomachab, Michael Zoram Awaseb, Jessica !Gaes (who was Sheehama’s girlfriend at the time) and Moses Kandume.
Appearing before magistrate Rosalia Andima, the accused, with the exception of Michael Awaseb, indicated that they have secured legal representation and wish to continue with the formal bail application.
Mervin Wapota (21) indicated he will plead not guilty to all charges.
Testimony given
During cross-examination by his lawyer, advocate Slysken Makando, Wapota said he visited the house where the alleged assault took place on the night in question because he wanted to see his friend and co-accused, Jimmy !Gaeb.
“I just wanted to quickly pop in, as I am quite close with his mother. I found Jessica, Matheus, Jimmy and Michael sitting outside, where I greeted them and went inside to Jimmy’s room. There were also other people in the house. I greeted them and thereafter went to the tuck shop. When I came back, I found Matheus standing on a bench, with Jessica in the middle of him and Michael. Jimmy was being held back by someone else (not one of the accused).”
He explained he went inside the house again, and when he returned outside, there was "chaos".
"I found Michael on top of the deceased and Jessica was throwing water on Michael. I went to stand outside the yard with Jimmy’s child in my hands. Later on, while standing there, Jessica, Matheus and another friend were busy coming out of the yard when Michael came running to Sheehama again and tripped him. The street was full of people again, and I went back into the yard and do not know what happened thereafter.”
Wapota claimed that Jessica and a friend returned at a later stage.
“She (Jessica) said that they put Sheehama in a taxi. After a while, everyone left, and it was just me, Jimmy and three more lady friends at Jimmy’s house.”
He said he told the police his story and was presumably arrested by the police “because he was a bystander. If it had not been for me informing the people of what was happening, chaos would not have taken place.”
He added that if he should be granted bail with conditions, he would adhere to them.
“I would be at home, as I am safer at home than in custody.”
Wapota, who is currently unemployed, indicated that his parents would be able to afford N$3 000 to N$4 000 bail.
The bail application hearing is set to continue on Thursday.
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