A couple arrested on Wednesday morning at Okahandja for the alleged murder of their two-month-old baby, Monica Blessing Swartbooi, was on Friday afternoon denied bail by the Okahandja Magistrate’s Court, where they made their first court appearance.

According to a charge sheet availed to Nampa on Friday, the accused Lourencious Goigoariseb, 32, and 31-year-old Roselda Swartbooi appeared before Okahandja acting magistrate, Revival /Goagoses.

Goagoses explained their legal rights to either engage a private lawyer of their choice; defend themselves in court; or apply for a State-funded lawyer through the Directorate of Legal Aid in the Ministry of Justice, to which Goigoariseb opted to apply for a Legal Aid lawyer, while Roselda is to defend herself in court.

Their case was then postponed to 05 April 2023 for further police investigations and also for the police to obtain pending statements from all witnesses.

Public prosecutor, Sirkka Nangolo appeared for the State in the matter and opposed any granting of bail, saying the couple might interfere with the State witnesses who are well known to them.

It is alleged that the deceased was discovered dead at the parents’ house at Okahandja’s Promised Land location in the early hours of Wednesday at about 04h00 when her mother wanted to breastfeed her.

The pair were wrestling over the baby by pushing and pulling each other while holding onto the baby tightly. The incident happened around 22h00 on Tuesday, after the father reportedly wanted to take the baby with him, which the mother did not want.

The baby was further allegedly discovered with bruises on her body. Police investigations into the matter continue.

Source: The Namibian Press Agency