Herold Uirab, a 37-year-old resident of Dordabis, appeared in the Windhoek High Court on Thursday, where he confessed to murdering a 23-year-old woman, Lydia Kharises. Uirab's confession was made to magistrate Atutala Shikalepo on December 14, 2021, after his arrest on charges of murder and rape. According to Uirab's statement, he grabbed Kharises in a chokehold, threw her to the ground, and hit her with a stone on the head.
Uirab's trial began in October last year, with judge Eileen Rakow presiding. He pleaded guilty to charges of murder and defeating or obstructing the course of justice, but state advocate Maggy Shiyagaya-Lotto did not accept his pleas. Uirab is also facing charges of rape and violating a dead human body, which he denied. During his confession, Uirab claimed that a police officer had threatened to beat him if he did not talk and suggested that he make a statement.
Uirab told Shikalepo that he attended a wedding on December 11, 2021, where Kharises was also present. He claimed that he had previously asked Kharises to be his girlfriend and that they had walked to a riverbed, where they had intercourse. When they heard people talking nearby, they crossed over the riverbed, and Uirab asked Kharises if they could continue having intercourse, but she refused.
Uirab recounted that after Kharises refused him, he grabbed her, and she became dizzy or fainted. He then described how he had her in a chokehold and threw a stone at her head. Having left the scene of the attack, he went home, where he told his girlfriend about the incident before going to sleep. He returned to the scene before daybreak to fetch his hat, which he had left there.
A medical doctor who carried out a post-mortem examination on Kharises' body testified in court about three weeks ago that her body had been mutilated with a sharp object after she had died. The doctor found that Kharises' pubic skin had been cut off and her uterus had been removed through a cut to her lower abdomen. Uirab made no mention of mutilating Kharises' body in his confession.
The trial is continuing, with Uirab being represented by defence lawyer Joas Neemwatya. He is being held in custody. The court will hear more evidence and testimony as the trial progresses. Uirab's case has sparked widespread concern and outrage in Namibia.
Key developments in the case include Uirab's confession to murder and his claims of being coerced by police. The prosecution will seek to prove the charges against him, while the defence will aim to raise reasonable doubt.
Key points
- Uirab confessed to murdering Kharises and described the circumstances surrounding her death.
- The trial is ongoing, with the prosecution presenting evidence and testimony to support the charges against Uirab.
- A medical doctor testified that Kharises' body was mutilated with a sharp object after her death, which was not mentioned in Uirab's confession.
