High Court judge who presided over domestic violence murder cases including conviction of Jacobus Gawaseb for fatal assault on pregnant girlfriend.
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The Namibian
Judge Dinnah Usiku presided over the start of the trial
“The three accused – Nicodemus Hango (23), Abast Muya (28) and Erastus Gabriel (41) – pleaded not guilty to a charge of murder, two counts of robbery with aggravating circumstances, and a charge of defeating or obstructing the course of justice at the start of their trial before judge Dinnah Usiku.”
Dorado Valley flat murder trio deny guiltThe Namibian
Judge Dinnah Usiku concluded state proved Gawaseb committed murder with direct intention to kill
“Usiku concluded that the state proved beyond a reasonable doubt that Gawaseb committed the crime of murder with a direct intention to kill.”
High Court convicts Gobabis man of girlfriend’s murderInformanté
Judge Dinnah Usiku found Jacobus Gawaseb guilty of murder of Fransiska Naobes
“JUDGE Dinnah Usiku in the High Court at the Windhoek Correctional Facility (WCF) on Monday found Jacobus Gawaseb (28) guilty of murder (dolus eventualis) of his then girlfriend, Fransiska Naobes (24), after finding that the State proved beyond a reasonable doubt that Gawaseb killed Naobes intentionally.”
Man found guilty of intentional killing of pregnant girlfriendThe Namibian
Judge Dinnah Usiku ordered psychiatric evaluation of Haoseb to assess mental condition at time of crimes
“Usiku made an order that an enquiry should be done into Haoseb's mental health history and a report provided to the court.”
Testimony of psychiatrists needed in rape, robbery trialThe Namibian
Judge Dinnah Usiku presided over Gawaseb's trial starting on Tuesday
“With his trial starting before judge Dinnah Usiku in the High Court at Windhoek Correctional Facility on Tuesday, Jacobus Gawaseb (28) admitted in a plea statement that he assaulted his then girlfriend, Fransiska Naobes (24), in the Epako area of Gobabis during the night of 2 to 3 March 2023.”
Man admits fatal assault on pregnant girlfriend at GobabisThe Namibian
Judge Dinnah Usiku postponed the sentencing of the four men convicted to 16 September
“Judge Dinnah Usiku postponed the sentencing of the four men convicted in connection with the house robbery to 16 September at the end of the presentence hearing.”
Lock husband’s killers up for life, widow saysThe Namibian
Judge Dinnah Usiku convicted four men on charges of murder and five others including attempted murder
“Judge Dinnah Usiku convicted the four men – Panduleni Gotlieb, David Tashiya, David Shekundja and Elly Hinaivali – at the end of a lengthy judgement delivered in the High Court at Windhoek Correctional Facility.”
Four guilty after trial over deadly robberyThe Namibian
Judge Dinnah Usiku convicted four men on six charges including murder
“Judge Dinnah Usiku convicted the four men – Panduleni Gotlieb, David Tashiya, David Shekundja and Elly Hinaivali – at the end of a lengthy judgement delivered in the High Court at Windhoek Correctional Facility on Monday.”
Four found guilty over fatal house robberyThe Namibian
Judge Dinnah Usiku made the ruling against recalling the three police officer witnesses
“Judge Dinnah Usiku made the ruling on an application by one of the five accused on trial before her, Panduleni Gotlieb, to have three state witnesses recalled to be cross-examined again on his behalf.”
No recall of witnesses in Walvis Bay house robbery trialJacobus Gawaseb was convicted and sentenced to 22 years' imprisonment for the fatal assault of his pregnant girlfriend, Fransiska Naobes, in March 2023. Judge Dinnah Usiku noted widespread outrage over domestic murders and said courts cannot ignore public concern without risking a breakdown of law and order.
16 August 2026 · The Namibian →
Jacobus Gawaseb was convicted and sentenced to 22 years' imprisonment for the fatal assault of his pregnant girlfriend, Fransiska Naobes, in March 2023. Judge Dinnah Usiku noted widespread outrage over domestic murders and said courts cannot ignore public concern without risking a breakdown of law and order.
16 August 2026 · The Namibian →
Three men accused of robbing and killing Stanley Cloete in his Dorado Valley flat on 2 March 2024 pleaded not guilty to murder, two counts of robbery with aggravating circumstances, and defeating the course of justice when their trial began in the High Court. The accused say items including a car, smartphone, laptop, television, watches and clothing were stolen from Cloete, who was assaulted, tied up and stabbed.
11 August 2026 · The Namibian →
Jacobus Gawaseb (29) was convicted of murder with direct intention to kill after fatally assaulting his pregnant girlfriend Fransiska Naobes (24) in Gobabis on 2–3 March 2023. Naobes died in hospital on 19 April 2023; the premature baby she was carrying was born but later died of malnutrition.
1 July 2026 · The Namibian →
Judge Dinnah Usiku found Jacobus Gawaseb (28) guilty of the murder of his then girlfriend Fransiska Naobes (24), who died on 19 April 2023 from injuries sustained in an assault on 2–3 March 2023 in Epako, Gobabis, while she was pregnant. The baby was born prematurely and also died; Gawaseb admitted to assaulting Naobes but denied intentional killing, a plea the State rejected.
29 June 2026 · Informanté →
Two psychiatrists will testify in May in the High Court about their psychiatric evaluation of Richard Haoseb (29), who was convicted of five counts of rape, housebreaking, robbery and kidnapping at Gobabis. The defence raised questions about Haoseb's mental state at the time of the crimes, noting he was diagnosed with schizophrenia and reported hearing voices since age seven.
27 March 2026 · The Namibian →
A 28-year-old Gobabis resident admitted in the High Court to assaulting his pregnant girlfriend Fransiska Naobes in March 2023, causing injuries from which she died seven weeks later in hospital. He claimed he acted after being told by a neighbor that Naobes was unfaithful, but did not admit to intending to kill her, so the state rejected his murder plea.
12 March 2026 · The Namibian →