Double murder was an accident, man claims
Convicted killer pleads for lighter sentence
Eight years after the murders, Mutero was in October found guilty of shooting and killing his wife and their seven-year-old son.
Mbangu Vensislaus Mutero (53), who has been convicted of the 2015 double murder of his wife and his son, yesterday pleaded for a lighter sentence in the Oshakati High Court.
Appearing before Judge Duard Kesslau, he said he does not know what possessed him to carry out the acts.
Led by his legal representative Absalom Shiningayamwe, Mutero kept referring to the events of 25 September 2015 - when he shot and killed his wife Rosalie Shirenga Shitjoni and their son seven-year-old Aleksus Vipanda - as an ‘accident’.
“I don't know what came to my mind, but I do understand and accept it. I am before the court asking for a lighter sentence and, if possible, I want my sentences to run concurrently,” he said.
Namibian Sun previously reported that Mutero had allegedly murdered his wife in a fit of jealousy, and that the couple were in a toxic relationship marred by constant fighting.
Mutero reportedly shot his wife after a heated argument, and when their son – who was in another room at the time – ran out at the sound of the gunshot, he shot the seven-year-old in the head too.
Business collapsed
Yesterday, Mutero informed the court that he is a father of six other children.
He also said he had spent N$50 000 on funerals for his wife and son, while the Gciriku Traditional Authority fined him N$41 000 to ‘console’ his late wife’s family.
While he used to sell bricks, reportedly making a profit of N$50 000 when business was flourishing, his business has since collapsed, Mutero said.
He further claimed that his in-laws had ransacked his house, and that items worth N$400 000 were never recovered.
The convicted killer told the court that he is sickly, having suffered from a heart condition since 1997.
He has been on treatment ever since and now cannot sleep on his left side, he said.
On his marriage, Mutero claimed “everything was fine until the 'accident'”.
According to him, after he was granted bail in 2018, his wife’s family forgave him, adding that they even took him to a church in Rundu as a sign of moving on.
The only person who has not forgiven him is his mother-in-law, he narrated.
The matter has been postponed to 14 December for final arguments and pre-sentencing.
Culpable homicide
Meanwhile, while on bail, Mutero found himself on the wrong side of the law again after he - on 30 December 2019 – hit a family of four with his car.
The victims - Petrus Kongo Haingura (44), Muhafereni Patricia Musinga Haingura (38), Belindine Kasiku Haingura (1) and Phillip Poroto Haingura (5) – were crossing the Trans-Zambezi highway at the time at Rundu’s Ndama location.
Three of the family members died on the scene, while five-year-old Phillip succumbed to his injuries in hospital later.
Mutero fled the scene and hid the vehicle a kilometre from where the incident happened.
He was subsequently arrested.
The culpable homicide case has not yet been concluded.
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Appearing before Judge Duard Kesslau, he said he does not know what possessed him to carry out the acts.
Led by his legal representative Absalom Shiningayamwe, Mutero kept referring to the events of 25 September 2015 - when he shot and killed his wife Rosalie Shirenga Shitjoni and their son seven-year-old Aleksus Vipanda - as an ‘accident’.
“I don't know what came to my mind, but I do understand and accept it. I am before the court asking for a lighter sentence and, if possible, I want my sentences to run concurrently,” he said.
Namibian Sun previously reported that Mutero had allegedly murdered his wife in a fit of jealousy, and that the couple were in a toxic relationship marred by constant fighting.
Mutero reportedly shot his wife after a heated argument, and when their son – who was in another room at the time – ran out at the sound of the gunshot, he shot the seven-year-old in the head too.
Business collapsed
Yesterday, Mutero informed the court that he is a father of six other children.
He also said he had spent N$50 000 on funerals for his wife and son, while the Gciriku Traditional Authority fined him N$41 000 to ‘console’ his late wife’s family.
While he used to sell bricks, reportedly making a profit of N$50 000 when business was flourishing, his business has since collapsed, Mutero said.
He further claimed that his in-laws had ransacked his house, and that items worth N$400 000 were never recovered.
The convicted killer told the court that he is sickly, having suffered from a heart condition since 1997.
He has been on treatment ever since and now cannot sleep on his left side, he said.
On his marriage, Mutero claimed “everything was fine until the 'accident'”.
According to him, after he was granted bail in 2018, his wife’s family forgave him, adding that they even took him to a church in Rundu as a sign of moving on.
The only person who has not forgiven him is his mother-in-law, he narrated.
The matter has been postponed to 14 December for final arguments and pre-sentencing.
Culpable homicide
Meanwhile, while on bail, Mutero found himself on the wrong side of the law again after he - on 30 December 2019 – hit a family of four with his car.
The victims - Petrus Kongo Haingura (44), Muhafereni Patricia Musinga Haingura (38), Belindine Kasiku Haingura (1) and Phillip Poroto Haingura (5) – were crossing the Trans-Zambezi highway at the time at Rundu’s Ndama location.
Three of the family members died on the scene, while five-year-old Phillip succumbed to his injuries in hospital later.
Mutero fled the scene and hid the vehicle a kilometre from where the incident happened.
He was subsequently arrested.
The culpable homicide case has not yet been concluded.
[email protected]
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