Dad charged with cutting throats of two kids, ages 4 and 6, on Christmas Eve (Windhoek, Namibia)

Dad JONAS PENOVANHU SHINAANA is charged with murdering his two children on Christmas Eve. Dad apparently was having "difficulties" with the mother, so it seems that in his own mind, he was perfectly justified in cutting the children's throats.

http://www.namibian.com.na/news/full-story/archive/2010/january/article/father-charged-with-cutting-kids-throats/

05.01.10

Father charged with cutting kids’ throats
By: WERNER MENGES

A 26-YEAR-OLD Windhoek resident is facing a lengthy period in Police custody after being charged with murdering his two children on Christmas Eve.

Charged with two counts of murder, Jonas Penovanhu Shinana made a first appearance in the Windhoek Magistrate’s Court in Katutura on Tuesday last week.

His second court appearance is scheduled for May 30. The court has ordered that he is to remain in custody in the meantime. Shinana’s case was postponed for further investigations to be carried out.

Shinana, who is reported to have been employed as a security guard, was arrested on December 24. He is accused of murdering his two children, Matheus Shinana, aged six, and his four-year-old daughter, Emilia Naatye Shinana, at their home in Wanaheda on the morning of that day by slitting the two children’s throats with a knife.

According to the Namibian Police, it is suspected that difficulties in the relationship between Shinana and the children’s mother led to the double killing.

Having allegedly killed the children, Shinana is claimed to have tried to commit suicide by hanging himself. He was rescued before he could kill himself. He was treated in a hospital in the city before he made a first appearance in court.

With his appearance before Magistrate Vanessa Stanley last week, Shinana was informed of his rights to legal representation and to apply for legal aid. He indicated to the court that he wished to conduct his own defence without legal representation.

Shinana was not asked to plead to the two counts of murder that he is facing at this stage before his case was postponed for five months for further investigations to be done.