Correspondent|One of the Zimbabwean women charged with murdering a nine-year-old girl in Namibia has appeared in court and said she will plead guilty.

Caroline Nkata appeared briefly at the Windhoek Magistrate’s Court alongside her co-accused, Rachel Kureva, the mother of the young murder victim.  Caroline said that she will conduct her own defense once the murder trial gets underway.

Caroline said her husband and the third accused, Edward Nkata, was the mastermind behind the murder of Natalie Chipomho. She said that he was the one who beat the young girl to death.

“I did not beat the child. My husband forced me to go with him when he was disposing of the body. He beat the child, but I was present when he did it.

When she died, he forced me to help him dump and burn the body. I witnessed the commissioning of these crimes but I did not commit them. I am, however, guilty to that extent. The child was beaten at home but I cannot say I was forced to be at home because that is where I live,” she said.

Caroline also said that she was present when her husband went to buy paraffin to burn and dispose of the child’s body in the rubbish bin.

Kureva, on the other hand, informed the court that she intends to solicit the services of a private legal representative.

The deceased’s biological father is currently on his way to Namibia from Zimbabwe.

The state opposed bail on the grounds of the seriousness of the offense, flight risk and that it would not be in the interest of the public and justice. The state also fears that the suspects might interfere with investigations.

The presiding Magistrate, Ndapewa Celma Amadhila, postponed the matter until 17 April for further police investigations, in which time the case of Edward will be added to that of the two women.