The Namibian police are still investigating the case of a mother, accused of having killed her two minor children and attempted to kill the third one in Ethiopia in December 2020.
Kristofina Amutenya (34), the former wife of a Namibian diplomat based in Ethiopia, walked free from police custody last April, after the Windhoek Magistrate’s Court provisionally withdrew her case on the State’s request.
The State made the request after having reached an agreement with Amutenya’s legal team for the criminal charges to be provisionally withdrawn, including the urgent application she had filed in the High Court for her immediate release from police custody.
Speaking to New Era, Prosecutor General Martha Imalwa said the case is currently with the Namibian Police.
“The matter at hand needed further investigations. So, it is currently with the investigating authority. It is wise if you contact the inspector general on the status of the case,” said Imalwa.
Namibian police head of criminal investigations Moritz Norres !Naruseb noted the matter is still being investigated.
“At this stage, it is premature to discuss details with the public. But I can assure you the case is still under investigation,” explained !Naruseb.
Amutenya was arrested on 12 December 2020, following allegations that she murdered her children Jenay (9) and Jane (3) at their family home in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on 13 December 2020.
She is further accused of attempting to murder a third child before she tried committing suicide.
The surviving child allegedly told the tale of what transpired.
Before her release, Amutenya was charged by the prosecution with two counts of murder and a charge of attempted murder.
In her withdrawn urgent application, Amutenya argued she needed to be released from custody, as her arrest and detention were unlawful.
In her affidavit, she claimed she was not furnished with any documentation explaining why she was immediately arrested upon her arrival at Hosea Kutako International Airport and consequently detained at Klein Windhoek Police Station.
There was also no explanation why she was required to make an appearance in the Windhoek Magistrate’s Court.
She also claimed to not have been presented with any documents or notices explaining her deportation from Ethiopia.
- mamakali@nepc.com.na