Dad furious over bail for shooters
Bonifatius Hauthiku Muhapiri says his son was “shot like a dog” and is furious over bail being granted to the two murder accused.
Kenya Kambowe
BAGANI
A distraught father whose son was gunned down, allegedly in cold blood by two Chinese nationals, has questioned why they have been granted bail.
Muyevu Andreas Haushiku was shot dead by the businessmen at Andara last April, and his father, Bonifatius Hauthiku Muhapiri, is demanding justice for his “blood”.
Xuefeng Chen (30) and Zhenhai Zhou (32) were granted bail of N$100 000 each by Magistrate Sonia Samupofu in the Mukwe Periodic Court last Tuesday.
The matter has been postponed to 22 October for a prosecutor-general's decision, while the State awaits an outstanding ballistics report.
The accused pleaded not guilty to charges of murder and the illegal discharge firearms in public.
Found out on social media
When Namibian Sun visited Muhapiri at his home in Bagani, he expressed dismay over how events unfolded recently.
He questioned why he was not informed about the bail application, claiming he has never missed a court date, because the police notify him on the developments.
He said he only learnt about bail being granted from his sister, who found out on social media, while further questioning why the police and court officials left him in the dark.
“Why were they granted bail? I don't know what is going on there. It has been months since the police communicated with me, and now this. They used to inform me about court appearances, and I showed up. I am still waiting on the police to tell me what transpired,” Muhapiri said.
'Shot like a dog'
“They shot my son like a dog because they have the money to pay their way out and them being granted bail explains it,” Muhapiri said. The suspects allegedly shot Muyevu four times on 17 April 2019.
According to police reports, the victim, who was employed by the suspects, had demanded severance pay following his dismissal earlier that day.
An argument ensued, during which the suspects allegedly shot Haushiku and “left him to die” outside their shop.
Acted in self-defence
During their initial bail application last September, the suspects claimed they had acted in self-defence after being attacked with a hammer.
Zhou denied the State's version that he had travelled from Divundu to Andara with the two guns used to kill Haushiku.
He said he carried his gun with him at all times, while Chen had his own firearm, which was under the counter of his shop.
Zhou said when he arrived at Chen's shop, the victim and Chen had already been involved in a heated argument.
He told the court that while he and Chen were behind the counter, they saw the deceased pick up a hammer inside the shop.
Zhou claimed that when Muyevu approached them, Chen pulled his gun from under the counter to defend himself.
'Intention was not to kill'
“My intent was not to kill. I took out my gun when I saw the deceased trying to beat Chen's head with a hammer. At that moment I did not want to kill; I simply wanted to disarm him by shooting at his arm,” Zhou testified. He then demonstrated in court how Chen, who was falling, also shot the victim.
State prosecutor Steven Haradoeb described Zhou's testimony as “far-fetched”.
The accused are represented by Slysken Makando, while Hilia Munzeze is the State prosecutor.
BAGANI
A distraught father whose son was gunned down, allegedly in cold blood by two Chinese nationals, has questioned why they have been granted bail.
Muyevu Andreas Haushiku was shot dead by the businessmen at Andara last April, and his father, Bonifatius Hauthiku Muhapiri, is demanding justice for his “blood”.
Xuefeng Chen (30) and Zhenhai Zhou (32) were granted bail of N$100 000 each by Magistrate Sonia Samupofu in the Mukwe Periodic Court last Tuesday.
The matter has been postponed to 22 October for a prosecutor-general's decision, while the State awaits an outstanding ballistics report.
The accused pleaded not guilty to charges of murder and the illegal discharge firearms in public.
Found out on social media
When Namibian Sun visited Muhapiri at his home in Bagani, he expressed dismay over how events unfolded recently.
He questioned why he was not informed about the bail application, claiming he has never missed a court date, because the police notify him on the developments.
He said he only learnt about bail being granted from his sister, who found out on social media, while further questioning why the police and court officials left him in the dark.
“Why were they granted bail? I don't know what is going on there. It has been months since the police communicated with me, and now this. They used to inform me about court appearances, and I showed up. I am still waiting on the police to tell me what transpired,” Muhapiri said.
'Shot like a dog'
“They shot my son like a dog because they have the money to pay their way out and them being granted bail explains it,” Muhapiri said. The suspects allegedly shot Muyevu four times on 17 April 2019.
According to police reports, the victim, who was employed by the suspects, had demanded severance pay following his dismissal earlier that day.
An argument ensued, during which the suspects allegedly shot Haushiku and “left him to die” outside their shop.
Acted in self-defence
During their initial bail application last September, the suspects claimed they had acted in self-defence after being attacked with a hammer.
Zhou denied the State's version that he had travelled from Divundu to Andara with the two guns used to kill Haushiku.
He said he carried his gun with him at all times, while Chen had his own firearm, which was under the counter of his shop.
Zhou said when he arrived at Chen's shop, the victim and Chen had already been involved in a heated argument.
He told the court that while he and Chen were behind the counter, they saw the deceased pick up a hammer inside the shop.
Zhou claimed that when Muyevu approached them, Chen pulled his gun from under the counter to defend himself.
'Intention was not to kill'
“My intent was not to kill. I took out my gun when I saw the deceased trying to beat Chen's head with a hammer. At that moment I did not want to kill; I simply wanted to disarm him by shooting at his arm,” Zhou testified. He then demonstrated in court how Chen, who was falling, also shot the victim.
State prosecutor Steven Haradoeb described Zhou's testimony as “far-fetched”.
The accused are represented by Slysken Makando, while Hilia Munzeze is the State prosecutor.
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