S v Uapuika (CRIMINAL 68 of 2011) [2011] NAHC 273 (21 September 2011)

# S v Uapuika (CRIMINAL 68 of 2011) [2011] NAHC 273 (21 September 2011) [ __](https://api.whatsapp.com/send?text=https://namiblii.org/akn/na/judgment/nahc/2011/273/eng@2011-09-21) [ __](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?text=https://namiblii.org/akn/na/judgment/nahc/2011/273/eng@2011-09-21) [ __](https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https://namiblii.org/akn/na/judgment/nahc/2011/273/eng@2011-09-21) [ __](https://www.linkedin.com/sharing/share-offsite/?url=https://namiblii.org/akn/na/judgment/nahc/2011/273/eng@2011-09-21) [ __](mailto:?subject=Take a look at this document from NamibLII: S v Uapuika \(CRIMINAL 68 of 2011\) …&body=https://namiblii.org/akn/na/judgment/nahc/2011/273/eng@2011-09-21) [ Download RTF (1.6 MB) ](/akn/na/judgment/nahc/2011/273/eng@2011-09-21/source) Toggle dropdown * [Download PDF](/akn/na/judgment/nahc/2011/273/eng@2011-09-21/source.pdf) Report a problem __ * Share * [ Download RTF (1.6 MB) ](/akn/na/judgment/nahc/2011/273/eng@2011-09-21/source) * [Download PDF](/akn/na/judgment/nahc/2011/273/eng@2011-09-21/source.pdf) * * * * * Report a problem __ ##### S v Uapuika (CRIMINAL 68 of 2011) [2011] NAHC 273 (21 September 2011) Copy citation * __Document detail * __Related documents * __Citations 1 / - Citation S v Uapuika (CRIMINAL 68 of 2011) [2011] NAHC 273 (21 September 2011) Copy Media Neutral Citation [2011] NAHC 273 Copy Court [High Court](/judgments/NAHC/) Case number CRIMINAL 68 of 2011 Judges [Siboleka J](/judgments/all/?judges=Siboleka%20J), [Parker J](/judgments/all/?judges=Parker%20J) Judgment date 21 September 2011 Language English Other documents [Download PDF](/akn/na/judgment/nahc/2011/273/eng@2011-09-21/attachment/s-v-uapuika-2011-nahc-273-21-september-2011.pdf) (91.2 KB) * * * Skip to document content **CASE NO.: CR 68/2011** “ _Not Reportable”_ **IN THE HIGH COURT OF NAMIBIA** In the matter between: **THE STATE** **vs** **JOSEPHAT MUJORO UAPUIKA** _(HIGH COURT REVIEW CASE NO.: 920/2011)_ _**CORAM**_**: PARKER, J** _et_**, SIBOLEKA, J** Delivered on: 2011 September 21 _______________________________________________________________________ **REVIEW JUDGMENT** _________________________________________________________________ _**PARKER, J**_ [1] This matter has been referred to me by way of special review in terms of s 304 of the Criminal Procedure Act, 1977 ([Act No. 51 of 1977](/akn/na/act/1977/51)) (‘CPA’). The accused was arraigned in the magistrates’ court, Okakarara, on attempted murder. The trial commenced and proceeded before Magistrate Ngwanga whose fixed-term contract of employment was not extended on its expiration, and so she returned to her home country, Zimbabwe. [2] In such a situation, it has been said (see _S v Scheepers_ 2009 (2) SACR 58 at 61g-h per Willis J) that the failure of a lower court to apply for the setting aside of proceedings and the commencement of a trial _de novo_ , as a result of the unavailability of the magistrate who began hearing evidence in the matter, will not necessarily result in a finding that an accused was subsequently wrongly convicted, if a trial _de novo_ does, in fact, take place without the prior sanction of the High Court. Nevertheless, it would certainly be desirable and good practice for an application to be made to the High Court, by way of special review, for the setting aside of previous proceedings and the commencement of a trial _de novo_. Rather than take the risk of injustice and unnecessary expense and inconvenience for the State and the accused, it is, by far, preferable to approach the High Court for a special review: the commencement of a trial _de novo_ is not merely an administrative matter. [3] I respectfully accept the point made by Willis Jas a correct statement of law and so I adopt it. Having done so I make the following order: 1. The trial proceedings before the magistrate, Ms Ngwanga, in this matter are set aside. 2. The trial may commence _de novo_ before another magistrate at the discretion of the Prosecutor General. **___________________** **PARKER, J** _**I agree.**_ **___________________** **SIBOLEKA, J** #### __Related documents ▲ To the top >