A resident of Keetmanshoop, Hans Jaartze, was sentenced to seven years imprisonment for a knife murder.

26-year-old Jaartze pleaded guilty to a murder charge at the start of his trial in the Keetmanshoop Regional Court.

He blamed alcohol for taking the life of his victim.

Jaartze, in his guilty plea, admitted that he fatally stabbed 39-year-old Jaco Kruger on March 1st, 2017 at Keetmanshoop.

The accused told the court he stabbed the deceased for pushing him aside.

Sentencing Jaartze to ten years of imprisonment, of which three are suspended, Magistrate Frans Anderson remarked that life is precious and cannot be replaced. 

He added that the circumstances under which the deceased lost his life are shocking, to say the least. 

Moreover, Anderson remarked that knife murders are untenable and require urgent intervention from law enforcement and the general public.
 
The courts, the regional magistrate said, impose sentences underscoring Namibian society's disdain when faced with such unacceptable violence.

He remarked that the court believes that there is a need to remove the accused from society for some time.