Werner Menges
1 June 2011
A young man accused of raping a woman in a near-fatal attack at Gobabis in October 2006 went on trial in the High Court in Windhoek for a second time this week.
The trial of Conradt Kharigub (22), who is charged with counts of rape and attempted murder, was in progress before the late Acting Judge John Manyarara when the judge died in Windhoek on May 28 last year.
As a result of Acting Judge Manyarara’s death, the trial had to start from scratch before another judge.
Kharigub’s second trial started before Judge Naomi Shivute on Monday, when he pleaded not guilty to both charges. His plea had been the same when he went on trial before Acting Judge Manyarara.
Kharigub is accused of attacking a 21-year-old woman at Gobabis in the early morning hours of October 15 2006.
The woman was allegedly raped, and was left seriously injured when she was also stabbed with a broken bottle over her body, in her face and in her mouth.
Kharigub’s first trial started in February 2009. After a number of postponements in the trial, the prosecution was still presenting its case to the court when Acting Judge Manyarara died.
Kharigub has been kept in custody since being arrested on the day after the attack.
He is being represented by defence lawyer Boris Isaacks. Deputy Prosecutor General Dominic Lisulo is representing the State.
AllAfrica – All the Time
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Gobabis Rape Retrial Starts