Joschko-survivor to testify in July in Dippenaar trial

The murder trial against Jandré Dippenaar (34) is set to continue in July this year with the survivor, Antonia Joschko, to testify next in the high-profile case. The case was postponed in the Regional Court of Swakopmund on Friday to give the defence time to prepare.
Antonia Joschko is set to give testimony of what transpired on 29 December 2014, when she lost her entire family in the horrific accident on the road between Swakopmund and Henties Bay. At the time she was 16 years old. She lost her father Markus Walter Helmut Joschko, mother Stephanie Schermuck-Joschko and her sister Alexandra Marlene Joschko.
The Joschko family was travelling towards Swakopmund in a Ford Ranger Pick-up when a head-on collision with a Toyota FJ Cruiser took place. Of the four occupants in the FJ Cruiser, only the driver Jandré Dippenaar survived, who is now facing various charges, including six counts of murder. The victims were JC Horn, Dinah Pretorius and Charlene Schoombee.
Since the start of the high-profile case last week Antonia Joschko has been a regular in court waiting to give her testimony. Joschko flew in from Germany together with her lawyer and other family members. At the end of last week the state intended to call her into the witness stand, but Dippenaar’s lawyer, advocate Louis Botes, objected.
“The witness arrived unexpectedly and was not sub-poenaed to testify. As a result the defence stopped its preparation for this witness,” said Botes on Friday. He said that an expert from Johannesburg is required to be present before Joschko can testify. “Attempts were made to bring the expert in, but he could not receive a work-permit and is not allowed into the country,” he said. “As a result we are not in a position to continue.”
“It is indeed so that the defence needs to be prepared,” said Magistrate Gaynor Poulton. After state prosecutor Hezekiel Iipinge and Botes agreed on a new date, she postponed the matter. The case will continue on 12 July. Three days have been set down for the young Joschko witness. Once she has finished her testimony the case will continue again on 20 November with the state to call further witnesses. Once again two weeks have been set down for the continuation of the trial.
Dippenaar, who is out on a warning, is facing a count of reckless or negligent driving, alternatively inconsiderate driving, a count of fraud, alternatively furnishing false information, a count of not being in possession of a driver’s license and six counts of murder. It is the first time in the Namibian history that a person is facing murder charges in connection with a car accident.
Since the start of the trial the family of members of the victims have been present in court throughout. It was an emotional rollercoaster as the witnesses gave testimony of what transpired on that fateful day.