WINDHOEK: A former police officer attached to the Women and Child Protection Unit in Keetmanshoop is set to plead guilty to the murder of his ex-girlfriend, in the Windhoek High Court on Tuesday.

The accused, Brian Plaatjie appeared briefly before Judge Dinah Usiku on Monday. His lawyer, Boris Isaacks indicated that Plaatjie will be pleading guilty. He is accused of fatally stabbing Yvette Louw, the mother of his two children, multiple times during the period 25 to 26 June 2021. The deceased, according to the indictment was at home with her then boyfriend, enjoying a meal when Plaatjie stormed in.

The State further alleges that the deceased’s boyfriend was also stabbed multiple times but survived the ordeal. Plaatjie is said to have reported the matter to the police himself and the victim died shortly after arriving at hospital. The accused faces six charges – housebreaking with intent to murder and murder, attempted murder, two counts of contravening a protection order, assault by threat and malicious dama
ge to property.

It is alleged that Louw had ended the relationship with Plaatjie two years before her murder and subsequently moved out of the home the two shared.

‘Due to ongoing assaults and threats by the accused, the deceased applied for and obtained a final protection order against the accused on 07 August 2020, which was valid until 07 August 2022. During the evening of 07 May 2021 and in contravention of the order, the accused arrived at the deceased’s residence and insulted and threatened her with violence. This caused her to flee and seek shelter at a neighbour’s house. He damaged her television set and left the scene,’ the indictment states.

Louw, according to the State opened a criminal case regarding the incident, leading to Plaatjie’s arrest. He was released on bail and went to the deceased’s house on the evening of 25 June 2021, when he allegedly pounced on her and her boyfriend.

Source: The Namibia Press Agency