Murder of Magdalena Stoffels

The murder of Magdalena Stoffels occurred in Windhoek, Namibia on July 27, 2010.[1] Stoffels, a 17-year-old schoolgirl, was found in a riverbed near Dawid Bezuidenhout High School after having been raped and murdered. Later that same day, a police officer found Junias Fillipus, aged 32, washing clothes in the same riverbed approximately 300 to 500 metres from where Stoffels' body was found. After observing what he believed to be scratch marks on his knees and back and blood stains on the clothes, the officer arrested Fillipus in connection for the attack.[2]

Aftermath

The crime was described by The Namibian as among "most prominent cases of violence against women and children recorded in [Namibia] in 2010".[3] The Windhoek Observer noted that "Fillipus’ arrest sparked a public outcry against gender-based violence"[4] Approximately 3,000 people, including schoolchildren from 10 schools, marched from Stoffels' school to the Magistrates' Court in Katutura to protest her rape and murder and to deliver a petition to the Deputy Prosecutor General Johnny Truter which pointed out the high rate of violent crime on Namibian children.[5] The Southern Times reported that the murder of Stoffels "ignited debate on the reinstatement of the death penalty" in Namibia.[6]

Evaluation of forensic evidence lasted almost a year. When the results arrived, the accused Junias Fillipus had to be released because he could not be conclusively linked to the crime. He was suing the Namibian Police for unlawful arrest, unlawful detention, and malicious prosecution in 2013. In 2016 the first two charges were thrown out of the Windhoek High Court due to a one-year statute of limitations for such claims. The third claim is yet to be heard in court.[7] Meanwhile, investigators fear that the case has gone cold.[8]

In 2013 a pedestrian bridge in Windhoek's Khomasdal suburb was named after Magdalena Stoffels. It is situated close to the Dawid Bezuidenhout school where Stoffels was a learner, and it crosses the Arebbusch Riverbed in which the murder occurred. The bridge is hoped to prevent future crimes in the bushy riverbed.[9]

References

  1. ↑ Menges, Werner (October 1, 2010). "Sex attack angers Okahandja residents". The Namibian.
  2. ↑ Menges, Werner (28 January 2011). "Question mark over murder evidence". The Namibian.
  3. ↑ "Pohamba deplores violence against women in 2010". The Namibian. January 4, 2011.
  4. ↑ "Murder suspect’s bail application postponed". Windhoek Observer. 2011. Retrieved March 17, 2011.
  5. ↑ Smith, Jana-Mari (August 2, 2010). "Thousands march for Magdalena". The Namibian. via allafrica.com.
  6. ↑ Tjatindi, Charles (August 6, 2010). "Forget about death penalty in Namibia". The Southern Times.
  7. ↑ Menges, Werner (22 August 2016). "Claim over Stoffels murder arrest fails". The Namibian.
  8. ↑ Smith, Jana-Mari (26 May 2011). "Hunt for Stoffels killer still on". The Namibian.
  9. ↑ "Magdalena Stoffels bridge nearly ready". Namibian Sun. 28 February 2013.
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