A 30-year-old man convicted by the Katima Mulilo Regional Court for murder and assault with intent to do serious bodily harm was on Wednesday handed a 17-year prison sentence.

Iven Tuwelo, a former teacher and father of eight, was charged with the murder of Matomota Kasungo, whom he shot with a pistol at a drinking place at Makolonga, in the Masokotwani area, on 30 July 2022.

Tuwelo pleaded not guilty at his first court appearance in 2022 and maintained his plea until Wednesday, when the court found him guilty.

Magistrate Malilo Mwilima, while sentencing Tuwelo, noted that courts have observed that every day an innocent life is lost in Namibia due to criminal offences, and Kasungo’s murder is one such case.

Mwilima explained that the court is aware of an argument that ended in an altercation between the deceased and the convict.

The court further noted that at the time of the shooting, Tuwelo was not under attack.