WINDHOEK FAITH SANKWASA
The three accused murderers of International University Management (IUM) student Eliakim Inane were granted bail on Tuesday by the Windhoek Magistrate's Court in Katutura.
The three - Shadino Bowe, Llewellyn Beukes and Wildrew Visagie - are charged with murder, arson and obstructing or defeating the course of justice, alternatively violating a dead body.
Bowe, Beukes and Visagie paid bail of N$5 000 each to be released from police custody where they have been since their arrest in February this year.
The three must report to the Wanaheda police station every Monday and Friday and may not leave the Windhoek district.
Magistrate Alpha Haihambo further ordered that they may not interfere with police investigations and that they must hand in all their travel documents.
The matter was postponed to July 30.
The three stand accused of attacking and wounding Iinane, 30, and throwing him into the boot of the taxi he was driving before burning it with him still alive inside, on August 2012 in Windhoek's Otjomuise residential area.
The taxi Inane was driving belonged to his cousin.
During one of the bail hearings, Visagie, 22, claimed that he had no knowledge of a written confession bearing his signature.
Visagie claimed that the investigating officer, Inspector Zakaria Amakali, had tricked him into signing a document he was not allowed to read, which has now been submitted as evidence.
Visagie further claimed that Amakali had promised to make him a State witness in exchange for his statement.
Under cross-examination by prosecutor Anthony Wilson, Visagie corroborated his cousin Beukes's statement that on the night of the murder they had been together at a bar when they saw Bowe driving around in a red Corolla.
Visagie said they hitched a ride with Bowe and drove to Otjomuise where the three continued drinking. He said he was dropped off at his home at 02:00.
Visagie is represented by Milton Engelbrecht while Beukes and Bowe are represented by Boris Isaacks and James Diedericks respectively.