Africa-Press – Namibia. Residents of Mariental in the Hardap region held a protest march on Friday to demand justice for Hendrina Amupolo, the nine-year-old girl who died after she had been hit by a farmer’s vehicle five days ago.
The march was led by community activists carrying a coffin and included family members of Hendrina and sympathisers, most of whom were dressed in black.
Hendrina Amupolo succumbed to her injuries at Mariental State Hospital after Hardap irrigation scheme farmer Johan Meyer allegedly drove over her at his plot near Mariental on Sunday.
Meyer was charged with culpable homicide and granted bail of N$3 000 on Tuesday.
The protesters’ spokesperson, Brenda Rooi, said the community members were disappointed with the handling of the case by the Mariental police and prosecutors at the Mariental Magistrate’s Court, where Meyer’s wife, deputy prosecutor general Anita Meyer, is also stationed.
“The police failed to arrest the suspect, who was known since Sunday, and the suspect reportedly handed himself over to the police two days later on Tuesday. Why?” said Rooi.
Rooi said the residents demanded that Meyer should be rearrested and his bail should be revoked.
She noted many offenders get arrested and spent up to six months in holding cells without bail for less serious crimes, as opposed to a suspect charged with culpable homicide and accused of having caused someone’s death through his negligence.
“The family is still grieving from the death of their child and the suspect is roaming around freely on bail. We therefore strongly condemn the awarding of bail in this matter and feel the bail should be revoked,” she said.
After marching from the Roman Catholic Church in Mariental’s Aimablaagte area to the town’s magistrate court, the residents handed over a petition to the court’s control prosecutor, Eric Naikako. They gave the court seven days to respond to their demands.
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