KEETMANSHOOP – A Keetmanshoop Regional Court magistrate sentenced 28-year-old Edmund Coetzee to an additional 15 years of imprisonment on Tuesday, adding to an ongoing sentence for a separate murder conviction.
According to Namibia Press Agency, who is already serving a 16-year sentence for a previous murder, was convicted of culpable homicide in the 2016 death of 20-year-old Romeo Frederick. The fatal incident, which occurred at a local bar, involved Coetzee stabbing Frederick in the neck with a broken bottle. Initially charged with murder, Coetzee pleaded guilty to the lesser charge of culpable homicide.
This recent sentencing reflects Coetzee’s second violent conviction, as he had earlier been found guilty in the 2014 murder of Elton Riekert, a case that also involved four of his friends and included charges of murder and robbery. Coetzee’s guilty plea in that instance led to his 2017 sentencing, while proceedings against his accomplices continue.
In his judgement, Magistrate Anderson remarked on the tragic nature of human life loss, stressing the need for harsh penalties to deter violent crimes involving weapons like knives and bottles, which he noted were prevalent in the region. He emphasized that such crimes demand urgent judicial intervention to protect society.
Coetzee’s total imprisonment will extend until 2043, with five years of his new sentence to run concurrently with his existing term, reflecting a net increase of ten years due to the severity of his actions.
Legal representation included State prosecutor Abel Manyando and defense lawyer Stephan Coetzee, provided through legal aid.