Maria Hamutenya
Addis Ababa murder accused, Kristofina Amutenya, was on Wednesday freed after the state provisionally withdrew charges against the former spouse of a diplomat.
The charges were withdrawn in the Windhoek Magistrate’s Court after Magistrate Alweendo Venatius was informed in a letter from the Office of the Government Attorney that the withdrawal had been agreed with Amutenya’s lawyer, Kadhila Amoomo.
Amoomo challenged the Namibian authorities’ decision to arrest and charge Amutenya with two counts of murder, and one of attempted murder upon her arrival from Addis Ababa.
Amoomo claimed that she (Amutenya) was not presented with any documents or notices explaining her deportation from Ethiopia, adding that there are processes that need to be followed and documents to be prepared that would motivate the extradition, which none where presented to his client.
Amoomo said the case now depends on the Prosecutor General, who will decide whether the case will continue. On whether the case will still be continued, Amoomo added that it depends on the Prosecutor General. Amutenya (34) who is accused of killing her children, Jenay (9), and Jane (3), by strangling them in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on 13 December, 2020, was freed after her Amoomo challenged the decision to detain and prosecute her in Namibia.
She is further accused of attempting to murder her nine-year-old stepson who survived the ordeal before she tried committing suicide.
Deputy Prime Minister and International Relations Minister, Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, speaking in Parliament on Wednesday said the case involving Amutenya is a complicated issue.
“All statements were handed over to the Namibian Police who have then taken charge of the person at the airport but we were informed as the Ministry that the charges are withdrawn and that’s where I leave the case when I say it is complicated,” said Nandi-Ndatwah
She further added that the Ministry of International Relations had done its part by bringing Amutenya back to Namibia, but it is unfortunate that this was the outcome adding that the Namibian law should take its course.
“MIRCO’s responsibility is to make the consultations and was working with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the receiving state and a Namibian was finally under the escort of the receiving state police,” said Nandi-Ndaitwah
Amutenya was never tried or charged for the murders in Ethiopia due to her diplomatic immunity but, however, was brought back to Namibia by the Ethiopian government and arrested by the Namibian Police upon arrival on Monday.
It is alleged that after committing the crime, Amutenya ran to the neighbours and informed them that her husband had been abusing the family. The husband was reportedly detained based on the allegations, but was released when the surviving child told Ethiopian authorities that it was Amutenya who had committed the killings.
Amutenya was married to diplomat, Petrus Haufiku, who was attached to the Permanent Mission of the Republic of Namibia in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The two married in 2010 before divorcing in 2020.
