Hango sentencing finally begins
TUYEIMO HAIDULA
OSHAKATI
The long-awaited sentencing of businessman and rape convict Sindano Hango started in the Oshakati Regional Court on Tuesday.
Hango’s sentencing was initially scheduled for Monday but magistrate Leopoldt Hangalo postponed the ruling to 1 February, saying Hango’s defence lawyer Kadhila Amoomo called in sick.
During the mitigation and aggregation yesterday, State prosecutor Nelao Ya France called on Veronica Theron, who is attached to the Office of the First Lady, as an expert witness.
Theron told the court of the emotional trauma the victim faced while the case dragged on for years.
“She left the family house and suffered a huge emotional toll. She also suffered emotional trauma. The case needs to come to a conclusion to reduce further secondary trauma for the complainant,” she said.
Not over it
Social worker Ndamononghenda Nalungu said she started counselling the victim on 11 November 2014, a month after the rape. She shared with the court a trauma report on the effect of the offence on the victim.
Nalungu spoke about the complainant having suicidal thoughts and losing her self-worth because of the incident. She said the victim attended 20 sessions of therapy to date, and while she has made significant progress, she is not over the ordeal.
“She has experienced extreme trauma and shock because she could not believe a trusted cousin did what he did. She feels he ruined her life, disrespected her body and has been having trouble sleeping at night,” Nalungu said.
Hango was convicted in the Oshakati High Court in February 2021 for raping his cousin in October 2014. Initially, Hangalo found Hango not guilty in the Oshakati Regional Court in 2019, but the State appealed the verdict, and the Oshakati High Court set aside the acquittal.
The matter was referred back to Hangalo for sentencing. In December 2021, Amoomo asked the magistrate to delay sentencing to allow witnesses to make time to come to court.
The sentencing trial continues today with human rights activist Rosa Namises as the next State witness.
OSHAKATI
The long-awaited sentencing of businessman and rape convict Sindano Hango started in the Oshakati Regional Court on Tuesday.
Hango’s sentencing was initially scheduled for Monday but magistrate Leopoldt Hangalo postponed the ruling to 1 February, saying Hango’s defence lawyer Kadhila Amoomo called in sick.
During the mitigation and aggregation yesterday, State prosecutor Nelao Ya France called on Veronica Theron, who is attached to the Office of the First Lady, as an expert witness.
Theron told the court of the emotional trauma the victim faced while the case dragged on for years.
“She left the family house and suffered a huge emotional toll. She also suffered emotional trauma. The case needs to come to a conclusion to reduce further secondary trauma for the complainant,” she said.
Not over it
Social worker Ndamononghenda Nalungu said she started counselling the victim on 11 November 2014, a month after the rape. She shared with the court a trauma report on the effect of the offence on the victim.
Nalungu spoke about the complainant having suicidal thoughts and losing her self-worth because of the incident. She said the victim attended 20 sessions of therapy to date, and while she has made significant progress, she is not over the ordeal.
“She has experienced extreme trauma and shock because she could not believe a trusted cousin did what he did. She feels he ruined her life, disrespected her body and has been having trouble sleeping at night,” Nalungu said.
Hango was convicted in the Oshakati High Court in February 2021 for raping his cousin in October 2014. Initially, Hangalo found Hango not guilty in the Oshakati Regional Court in 2019, but the State appealed the verdict, and the Oshakati High Court set aside the acquittal.
The matter was referred back to Hangalo for sentencing. In December 2021, Amoomo asked the magistrate to delay sentencing to allow witnesses to make time to come to court.
The sentencing trial continues today with human rights activist Rosa Namises as the next State witness.
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