Werner Menges
28 June 2011
The man accused of being a serial rapist who carried out violent sex attacks near Windhoek’s two State hospitals in 2008 and 2009 denied guilt on all charges when his trial started in the High Court in Windhoek yesterday.
Accused of being a sexual predator who made the area between Windhoek Central Hospital and Katutura State Hospital his hunting ground, Engelbert Oxurub (44) is charged with ten counts: four charges of rape, four counts of attempted murder, and counts of robbery and assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm. Having pleaded not guilty to all charges, Oxurub did not give any plea explanation as his trial got off to a start before Judge Collins Parker.
The prosecution is alleging that Oxurub attacked three teenaged girls and two adult women in the vicinity of Windhoek Central Hospital and Katutura State Hospital during the period of June 2008 to April 2009.
The three girls and one of the women were allegedly raped. In four of the incidents a similar method of attack was followed, with both adult women and two of the girls strangled or throttled when they were attacked.
The first attack took place on June 30 2008, when a 13-year-old girl was allegedly raped after she had been lured into a bushy area near Windhoek Central Hospital. She was threatened with a knife during the incident, the prosecution is alleging.
Eight months later, a second attack took place near the psychiatric hospital that is close to Windhoek Central Hospital. On that occasion on March 3 2009, it is claimed, a 16-year old girl was attacked by someone who grabbed her on her throat, pulled her to some bushes, and strangled her. She lost consciousness, and when she came to she found the suspect raping her, it is alleged. When she started screaming, Oxurub took out a knife and threatened to cut her throat, the prosecution is charging. He again strangled her until she lost consciousness after he had raped her, it is alleged.
On March 30 2009 the third attack allegedly took place. Again, a 16-year-old girl fell prey to Oxurub, the prosecution is claiming. She was allegedly attacked near Windhoek Central Hospital while she was walking home from school.
It is alleged that she was grabbed from behind, strangled, pulled into bushes and, after she had lost consciousness, also raped.
Two days later, on April 1 2009, an adult woman was attacked near Katutura State Hospital.
Testifying before Judge Parker yesterday, she claimed Oxurub was the person who attacked her between the psychiatric hospital and Katutura State Hospital. She said the attack took place at about 17h30, when Oxurub grabbed her, choking her until she passed out. Before this, he had started to talk to her, asking her where she was going to, when she encountered him while on her way in the direction of Katutura State Hospital, she said.
It was already dark when she again woke up, finding herself under a bridge, she testified. She said she felt it was wet between her legs, her panties were gone, and also discovered that her cellphone, earrings and N$50 in cash had been stolen.
Six days later, on April 7 2009, a young nurse, Selma Sheetekela, was the fifth person to be attacked in the vicinity of the hospitals.
She told the court yesterday that she was on foot, on her way to Windhoek Central Hospital, when Oxurub came from the front. They greeted each other, but after she had passed him he grabbed her from behind, with one hand holding her throat and the other covering her mouth. She said she fell to the ground. Looking up, she saw Oxurub standing over her with his legs spread wide, Sheetekela said.
She screamed, and when security guards at the nearby psychiatric hospital reacted, her attacker ran away.
Soon after she had given a description of the attacker to members of the Windhoek City Police who had arrived at the scene, word came that a suspect had been caught by the Namibian Police. It was Oxurub.
Sheetekela said she identified him as the person who attacked her.
The woman who had been attacked on April 1 2009 also told the court that she had to attend an identification parade after a suspect had been arrested. She pointed Oxurub out as her attacker, she said.
She recognised him from his hairstyle and his face, she said. “I had looked at his face when we were talking to each other,” she told the court.
The trial is continuing today.
Oxurub is being represented by defence lawyer Jerhome Tjizo. Deputy Prosecutor General Jackson Kuutondokwa is conducting the prosecution.
AllAfrica – All the Time
Original post:
Namibia: Suspect Denies He is Serial Rapist