Eba Kandovazu
THE Windhoek High court today sentenced former Refugee Commissioner Likius Valombola to 14 years for killing Helao Ndjaba.
The 57-year-old Valombola could be released on parole after seven years. Valombola shot Ndjaba (25) in the head in Windhoek’s Ombili settlement in 2018. Ndjaba, who was shot twice was comatosed before he died days later. Ndjaba served on the Executive of the Namibia National Students Organisation (Nanso).
Valombola throughout the trial maintained his innocence. He was acquitted of discharging a firearm in public and only answered to the murder count. Today, the High Court was packed with family members of the deceased as they waited for the verdict by Judge Claudia Klaasen, who concluded that Valombola was reckless when he fired the fatal shots in the direction of people in a street, leading to the killing of Ndjaba, who was standing on a sidewalk waiting for a taxi.
Helao’s brother, Lameck, says the family has already forgiven Valombola. Valombola’s argument throughout was self defence, saying that he feared for his life and the lives of his son and wife who were in the vehicle, claiming that a car was blocking their way.
Valombola pleaded not guilty to the charges and instead says he fired the shots after his car was approached by three people.
