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.^[2] 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.^[2] 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] As of January 2011, Fillipus remained in police custody and was awaiting trial.^[2] Semen found on Stoffels had been sent to Canada for DNA analysis, however, the results were still pending.^[2]

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]

References

1. ^ Menges, Werner (October 1, 2010). "Sex attack angers Okahandja residents". The Namibian. http://www.namibian.com.na/sport/local/full-story/archive/2010/october/article/sex-attack-angers-okahandja-residents/. Retrieved March 17, 2011. 
2. ^ ^{a b c d e} Menges, Werner (January 28, 2011). "Question mark over murder evidence". The Namibian. http://www.namibian.com.na/news/full-story/archive/2011/january/article/question-mark-over-murder-evidence/. Retrieved March 17, 2011. 
3. ^ "Pohamba deplores violence against women in 2010". The Namibian. January 4, 2011. http://allafrica.com/stories/201101040291.html. Retrieved March 17, 2011. 
4. ^ "Murder suspect’s bail application postponed". Windhoek Observer. 2011. http://www.observer.com.na/archives/581-murder-suspects-bail-application-postponed. Retrieved March 17, 2011. 
5. ^ Smith, Jana-Mari (August 2, 2010). "Thousands march for Magdalena". The Namibian. http://allafrica.com/stories/201008020560.html. Retrieved March 17, 2011. 
6. ^ Tjatindi, Charles (August 6, 2010). "Forget about death penalty in Namibia". The Southern Times. http://www.southerntimesafrica.com/article.php?title=%27Forget_about_death_penalty_in_Namibia%27__%A0_&id=4539. Retrieved March 17, 2011.