Zimbabwean trio plead not guilty to child's murder
A Zimbabwean trio accused of murdering a nine-year-old girl and setting her body alight four years ago have pleaded not guilty to all but one charge.
Edward Nkata and Caroline Nkata appeared before Judge Philanda Christiaan earlier this week in the Katutura Magistrate's Court alongside the child's mother, Rachael Kureva. They stand accused of beating Akundaishe Natalie Chipomho to death with a broomstick, throwing her body in a rubbish skip and setting it alight.
In addition to pleading not guilty to Chipomho's murder, the trio also pleaded not guilty to 11 other charges, but admitted guilt for count nine, which relates to the Nkata couple overstaying their employment permits in Namibia. They also stand accused of the attempted murder of an 11-year-old boy.
The trio, who allegedly told the Namibian Police that Chipomho was in Zimbabwe when asked about her whereabouts, stated through their defence lawyers, Mbanga Siyomunji (for Edward), Milton Engelbrecht (for Caroline) and Joseph Andreas (for Rachel), that the State must prove their guilt on all charges.
Fraud, forgery charges
According to the immigration selection board, Caroline was only authorised to work and live in Namibia with her husband from 16 June 2017 to 15 June 2019. Engelbrecht said his client admitted to not presenting herself to an immigration officer after her permit expired.
Additionally, on charges of fraud, the State alleged that the Nkatas – between January and June 2019 – defrauded Progress Private School, where Caroline worked as a teacher, of N$6 000 in school fees by falsely presenting themselves as Chipomho's biological parents to enrol her at the school.
The State further alleged that the couple forged the principal and teachers' signatures, and altered Chipomho's grades and comments on her progress report to facilitate her enrolment at Rocky Crest Primary School.
Edward Nkata and Caroline Nkata appeared before Judge Philanda Christiaan earlier this week in the Katutura Magistrate's Court alongside the child's mother, Rachael Kureva. They stand accused of beating Akundaishe Natalie Chipomho to death with a broomstick, throwing her body in a rubbish skip and setting it alight.
In addition to pleading not guilty to Chipomho's murder, the trio also pleaded not guilty to 11 other charges, but admitted guilt for count nine, which relates to the Nkata couple overstaying their employment permits in Namibia. They also stand accused of the attempted murder of an 11-year-old boy.
The trio, who allegedly told the Namibian Police that Chipomho was in Zimbabwe when asked about her whereabouts, stated through their defence lawyers, Mbanga Siyomunji (for Edward), Milton Engelbrecht (for Caroline) and Joseph Andreas (for Rachel), that the State must prove their guilt on all charges.
Fraud, forgery charges
According to the immigration selection board, Caroline was only authorised to work and live in Namibia with her husband from 16 June 2017 to 15 June 2019. Engelbrecht said his client admitted to not presenting herself to an immigration officer after her permit expired.
Additionally, on charges of fraud, the State alleged that the Nkatas – between January and June 2019 – defrauded Progress Private School, where Caroline worked as a teacher, of N$6 000 in school fees by falsely presenting themselves as Chipomho's biological parents to enrol her at the school.
The State further alleged that the couple forged the principal and teachers' signatures, and altered Chipomho's grades and comments on her progress report to facilitate her enrolment at Rocky Crest Primary School.
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Namibian Sun
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