The five men accused of brutally hacking to death and shooting Windhoek resident Patrick Hamupanda, were denied bail when they made their first appearance in the Katutura Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday.

The suspects, Lukas Simon (37); Festus Nehemia (26); Lukas Amutenya (25); Kleopas Amutenya (25); and Felix Imusi (28) were arrested on Tuesday following an intense manhunt by the Namibian Police Force (NamPol), who say another suspect, Welhelm Modesutus, is still on the run. The suspects appeared before Magistrate Johaness Shuuveni, who denied them bail due to the seriousness of the offence and public interest.

It is alleged that the 31-year-old Hampunda was killed with guns and pangas in a house in Mungunda Street on Sunday.

The suspects were charged with murder and their case has been postponed to 28 September 2023 for the accused to acquire legal representation. The accused persons have indicated that they will be applying for representation through the Ministry of Justice’s Directorate of Legal Aid.

Tatelo Lusepani represented the State.

Meanwhile, the deceased was scheduled to make an appearance in the Katutura Magistrate’s court on Monday, hours after his brutal murder. He faced a charge of attempted murder.

Court records indicate that he, on 23 December 2018, shot a man with an arrow, with the intent to murder him. The incident happened in Windhoek’s Havana residential area.

His matter has since been postponed to 24 August 2023, for his Lawyer Mbanga Siyomundji to present the death certificate in court.

“It will be premature to withdraw the matter without confirming if the accused is indeed deceased,” Prosecutor Victoria Thompson told the court on Monday.

Source: The Namibia Press Agency