Windhoek couple to stand trial for murder

A couple accused of murdering and robbing an engineer in his Windhoek home have made a first appearance in the High Court. The Namibian reports that Muningandu Kaapama (29) and his fiancée, Jorene Bezuidenhout (28), appeared before Deputy Judge President Hosea Angula for a pretrial hearing. Their case was transferred from the Windhoek Magistrate’s Court to the High Court at the end of May. Kaapama and Bezuidenhout are charged with counts of murder, robbery with aggravating circumstances and defeating or obstructing the course of justice. The state is alleging that they murdered NamPower employee Benjamin Silombela (41), in his Eros Park home on 23 May 2022. Silombela was found dead the following evening. He had been tied up and allegedly strangled. Kaapama and Bezuidenhout were arrested three days later. They both admitted during a bail hearing that they had been at Silombela’s house during the evening in question, but denied that they killed him.