Additional suspects in Fredericks’ murder appear in court


WINDHOEK: Two more suspects appeared in the Katutura Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday in connection with the murder of Christoph Fredericks last Thursday.

Fredericks, who identified as a transgender woman was reportedly stabbed 42 times. The body of the victim was also mutilated and the genitals cut off. Appearing before Magistrate Surita Savage, Tashiya Nandomba, 23, and Joslin Booysen, 21, face a charge of defeating and obstructing the course of justice. The State alleges that the two washed the clothes of murder suspects Namwandi Nandomba, 18, and Mervin Beukes, 19, who allegedly viciously murdered Fredericks.

The incident reportedly happened in Otjomuise in Windhoek last week Thursday. Tashiya and Booysen, the State said, were not at the scene but assisted the two initial suspects in attempting to get away with murder. Tashiya is the biological sister of Namwandi, who was arrested on Sunday with his co-accused, Beukes. The two teenagers appeared in the Katutura Magistrate’s Court on three charges namely; m
urder, violating a dead body and defeating the course of justice. All four suspects have since been denied bail due to the seriousness of the charges, public interest and fear of interfering with investigations.

The State, represented by prosecutor Victor Mutumbulwa requested that all four suspects be transferred from the Windhoek Police Station holding cells to the Windhoek Correctional Facility, for their safety. Magistrate Savage postponed the matter to 31 July 2024, for further police investigations and for legal aid application status hearing.

Source: The Namibia Press Agency