Katima mulilo: The 44-year-old man who allegedly murdered his 33-year-old wife, Rachel Ikume Simasiku, in the Chotto informal settlement of Katima Mulilo on Sunday night made his first court appearance in the Katima Mulilo Magistrate's Court on Wednesday.

According to Namibia Press Agency, appearing before Magistrate Davy Kambinda, the accused, Steven Naruseb, faced a murder charge read with provisions of the Combating of the Domestic Violence Act. He was not asked to plead, but informed the court that he would apply for legal aid. The matter was postponed to 22 April 2026 for further police investigations.

Prosecutor Cedrick Mundia indicated that the charges Naruseb faces are serious, arguing that granting him bail a day after handing himself in to the police would not be in the public interest or in the interest of the administration of justice. The State also considers Naruseb a flight risk who could potentially interfere with witnesses in the ongoing police investigations.

Naruseb was remanded in custody until his next court appearance in 2026. He allegedly stabbed his wife multiple times before she died upon arrival at the State hospital. The police earlier said it is alleged that the deceased was heard screaming for help by neighbours, who then attempted to rescue her but found the house locked from the inside. When they looked through the window of the couple's room, they allegedly observed the suspect holding a knife.

Shortly afterwards, he came out of the house and told the neighbours to call the police as he was done with what he was doing, and then walked away. 'The neighbours called the police, and they found the woman in a pool of blood, unconscious. She was transported to the hospital, where she was declared dead by a doctor,' the police report said.