Windhoek — A WINDHOEK resident accused of robbing and murdering his cousin and setting fire to his alleged victim's body almost three and a half years ago was granted a postponement of the start of his trial in the High Court on Thursday.

The trial of Elias Nhinda Tjiriange (28) was set to take place during a current special criminal court session of the High Court that runs until May 14.

Appearing before Judge Collins Parker and Acting Judge John Manyarara on Thursday, though, Tjiriange's defence lawyer, Bradley Basson, asked for the starting date to be deferred - an application that State advocate Sandra Miller opposed without success.

Basson told the judges that he had instructions to ask for a postponement, as Tjiriange had to attend to some family matters, and because in his opinion Tjiriange's trial would in any event not be finalised in the allotted time if Tjiriange were to plead not guilty to the charges against him.

Basson told the court that the family matters he referred to were confidential, with the result that he could not reveal what this was about.

Miller objected to a postponement of the case.

She told the court that the State was ready to proceed and that the prosecution's witnesses were at court, ready to testify.

The family of Villi Heikky Taukondjelwa Asino (24), the person Tjiriange is alleged to have murdered, had waited a long time for the case to be finalised, and their lives were on hold while the case remained pending, Miller added.

She said in her estimation the trial would take three to four days to finalise.

The Judges decided to grant Tjiriange the postponement.

He now has to appear in the High Court for another pre-trial hearing on May 22.

Tjiriange has five charges pending against him.

These are counts of murder, robbery with aggravating circumstances, defeating or obstructing the course of justice, alternatively violating a dead body, possession of a 9 mm pistol without a licence and possession of 9 mm bullets without a licence.

It is alleged that Tjiriange and Asino, who was his cousin, met on December 20 2004 and drove Asino's vehicle to a deserted building at Okahandja Park in Windhoek.

At this spot, Tjiriange allegedly shot Asino at least six times with a 9 mm pistol, and then stole the vehicle, clothing, a cellphone and a phone charger from Asino.

Asino died at the scene as a result of gunshot wounds to his head and neck, it is alleged.

Tjiriange then loaded Asino's body into the vehicle and drove off, it is charged.

The next day, he bought some petrol, dumped Asino's body at a deserted spot at Okahandja Park, and set the body on fire, it is further alleged.

Tjiriange is in Police custody.

He had been free on bail for some time until his bail was withdrawn in July last year when he failed to attend a scheduled court appearance.