Knife killer gets 38 years

A MAN who admitted that he murdered his girlfriend with a knife in Windhoek four years ago, was sent to prison for an effective 38 years yesterday.

When he murdered his live−in girlfriend, Antoinette Lydia April on 1 March 2012, Willem Titus did not show any mercy to her, Judge Dinnah Usiku remarked during Titus’ sentencing in the Windhoek High Court. April (41) was stabbed eight times with a knife, Judge Usiku noted, commenting that she had been killed in a brutal way. Judge Usiku added that the nature of the murder called for a severe sentence to match the seriousness of the crimes of which Titus was convicted. Given the current levels of violence and more specifically serious crimes being committed against women and children in Namibia, it seemed proper that with the sentencing of Titus, emphasis should be placed on retribution and deterrence, she further said.