Trial of double murder suspects set to commence on Tuesday

WINDHOEK: Two farm workers accused of killing their employers in 2018 appeared briefly in the Windhoek High Court on Monday, for the commencement of their trial. The suspects, 35-year-old Bernadus Afrikaner and Salatiel Unaeb, 47, appeared before Judge Naomi Shivute who informed them about the commencement of the trial on Tuesday, 23 July 2024. They face 11 charges including murder, rape, robbery with aggravating circumstances, arson, unlawful possession of ammunition, defeating the course of justice, and assault by threat. The state is alleging that the two men murdered Armin Riedel and his wife, Brunhild Riedel, after taking turns to rape her on 20 January 2018 on Farm Grunfeld, in the Gobabis district. The suspects, according to the state also resided on the couple's farm. It is further alleged that they set the deceased bodies alight as well as the farm house after stealing a French royal cutlery set, a man's blue suit, a pistol, a hunting knife, a butcher knife, a steak knife, two duvets, a pillow, c ellphones, and jewelry. Further allegations are that the two suspects threatened to assault another co-worker who police say witnessed the commission of the crime. 'Aggravating factors are present in that the accused, before and during the commission of the crime threatened to inflict bodily harm to the deceased,' court documents read. The state, represented by Ethel Ndlovu further alleges that the suspects after committing the crimes, allegedly washed the clothes they were wearing, cleaned up the crime scene, and removed gun residue. This, the state claims was done to frustrate police investigations. Source: The Namibia News Agency