Windhoek: High Court Acting Judge Herman January on Thursday sentenced 48-year-old Patrick Geingob to 25 years imprisonment for the murder of his wife, Marentha Geingos, in 2019. Geingob, a former teacher, also faced additional charges of assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm as well as assault, with a 12-month sentence to run concurrently with the murder charge.

According to Namibia Press Agency, Geingos, aged 38, was stabbed by Geingob at their home in Katutura, Windhoek, on 14 April 2019. The incident occurred after she enquired about why he had come home late. Geingob stabbed her 12 times in front of their children. The acting judge found that the deceased was defenceless during the attack.

In sentencing, the judge noted that Geingob apologised to the court and the family during mitigation. Geingob indicated during the trial that the incident was not intentional. Before sentencing, he asked for mercy, referenced the Bible, and expressed plans to open a school after serving his sentence to educate learners about the law.

The court also observed that Geingob did not attend the funeral, and his family did not contribute to it. The state highlighted the severity of the deceased's injuries, noting that they were so severe that her intestines fell out of her stomach.

Reacting to the ruling, Japhet Boois, the brother of the deceased, told Nampa that the sentence was insufficient to provide closure for the family. Boois expressed that he expected at least a 35-year sentence for Geingob, stating that the punishment did not reflect the magnitude of the crime committed. The family is considering consulting with state prosecutors to explore the possibility of appealing the judgment.