By: Justicia Shipena
The High Court has sentenced former paramedic Namibian Defence Force (NDF) Johannes Nduvange Neuaka (44) to 28 years for killing his girlfriend.
Neuaka shot his girlfriend Zya Juliet Shane Rittman in the head on 21 January 2018 at her mother’s home in Michael Angelo Street, Damara location in Katutura.
The sentencing comes after Neuaka was found guilty of murder with the intent to kill.
He was also sentenced to five years for attempted murder, six months for assault, one year for discharging a firearm, one year for pointing a firearm, two years for possession of a firearm, and one year for unlawful possession of ammunition.
“The sentence for the count, five, six and eight are to run concurrently with a sentence of count seven,” said Judge Naomi Shivute.
She also declared that Neuaka is unfit to possess a firearm for five years.
“This is with effect from when he finishes serving his sentence,” she said.
Shivute ordered that the firearm and the holster should be returned to the owner Gideon Kaita.
Shivute said in deciding the sentence, considered the offence, the crime and the interest of the society.
She added that Neuaka did not testify under oath in mitigation and did not call up any witness.
“However, counsel for the State called Goye Rittman the deceased’s mother, who testified that Zya’s death had a bad effect on the family since she had plans for the future,” she said.
Shivute said Zya’s sister Tesmeralda Hassie Orlam was also affected by her death.
“Two years ago, she almost dropped out of school because she witnessed the deceased’s death,” she said.
Shivute also added that Neuaka did not apologise for what he did.
“When the witness went to see him in custody, he cried a lot. The investigating officer approached the witness and informed her that the accused asked to contribute to the funeral expenses.”
Shivute said although the mother has lost her daughter, she is willing to forgive the accused.
As a father of 11 children, Neuaka has been in custody for four years since his arrest.
She further said Neuaka committed premeditated offences.
“The accused did not show remorse as he did not testify under oath. He threatened to kill the deceased prior, and he has no respect for human life.”
Shivute said his previous convictions of theft of a motor vehicle shows the character of Neuaka.
“He has no respect for the law,” she said.
“The accused did not tender any evidence to show genuine remorse.”
The couple had a six-year-old boy.
Handing down her ruling last year, Shivute questioned why Neuaka ran away from the scene after a gunshot went off.
Shivute also questioned why Neuaka, a trained paramedic, didn’t render assistance to Zya when the incident occurred.
The court dismissed Neuaka’s version that Zya was accidentally shot when she grabbed the arm he was holding the firearm with.
He further said that he did not have the intention to kill the deceased and that he left the scene because he was shocked and confused, and it was only later that he calmed down and decided to hand himself over to the police.
Neuaka also denied ever assaulting or attempting to kill Zya.
Orlam, in her testimony, said Neuaka took out a gun from the side of his right waist, pointed it, and pressed it against the deceased’s forehead.
Rittmann’s arms were hanging by her side, and she had one foot against the wall. She had asked the accused what he was doing when he pointed a firearm at her. He then shot her, and she fell. Orlam also observed blood oozing from the Zya.
Cornelius Johannes Orlam, also known as ‘Keff’ testified that he heard a gunshot when Neuaka and the Zya stood by the main house wall whilst talking to each other.
He also said he went to check and found the deceased lying in a pool of blood and observed the accused running out of the gate and getting into the car that drove away.
On 21 January 2018, Oswin Fillipus testified that he overheard the deceased saying ‘please Neuaka’ to the accused.
On the same day, Gentleman Araeb testified that Neuaka came out rushing, bumped against him, and later saw Rittmann lying on the ground.
Sheetekela Kaizer told the court that Neuaka jumped into the car after the gunshot and instructed him to drive.
Kaizer said Neuaka told him, “This lady does not see me; I tried. I warned her. I am tired of her sh**, and I am just fed up.”
According to the post mortem report, the cause of death was a gunshot wound to the head.
Sergeant Mika Gotlieb testified that there were a lot of problems between the Zya and Neuaka.
Gotlieb had said that during 2013 there was a case of pointing of a firearm opened against the accused.
Before Zya was shot dead, there had been alleged threats against her life by Neuaka.
Her mother also testified the accused threatened to kill her and that he would put her in a black plastic bag and take her body to South Africa.