Oshakati — The Eenhana Magistrate's Court has refused bail to a Grade 12 student from Haimbili Haufiku Senior Secondary School, who is accused of murdering a fellow learner.

The accused, Johannes Amunyela, appeared in court early this week for allegedly stabbing to death 17-year-old Sylvanus Shatipamba Hifikepunye at the school's hostel last Saturday afternoon.

Hifikepunye was murdered two weeks after another learner at St Mary Odibo High School was murdered in front of the school and barely a month after yet another learner was fatally assaulted by a schoolmate with a knobkerrie at Oshikunde Secondary School.

All three schools, where the alleged murders took place, are located in the Ohangwena Region.

It is alleged that 20-year-old Amunyela, who is known for his bully and aggressive behaviour, hit Hifikepunye with a stone on the head a day before the murder.

"We only learnt that that same learner (Amunyela) is popularly known for bullying people at school, including teachers," said Haimbili Haufiku Senior Secondary School principal, Dineinge Sheya.

On the day of the murder, Amunyela allegedly verbally assaulted another learner. The learner ignored him. He then went to his locker, where he drew a knife and started to sharpen it. The knife allegedly broke in the process. He then sneaked out of the school, through a hole in the school fence and went to buy another knife at the location.

When he returned, he allegedly continued to insult the same learner, who ignored him (Amunyela).

He left the learner for a while. However, Amunyela met Hifikepunye, who was on his way from the TV room, in the hostel's corridor and allegedly started insulting the deceased, accusing him of being ugly. He allegedly grabbed Hifikepunye by the throat.

Hifikepunye allegedly hit Amunyela with a fist, whereupon Amunyela drew out a knife and stabbed him in the chest. Hifikepunye died on the spot. After the incident, Amunyela allegedly fled the school. He reportedly hid inside a church next to the school, which he entered through a window.

A group of learners, accompanied by the police, went after him. He later came out of the church and ran into the bush were he attempted to hang himself. However, the mob caught up with him.

Amunyela was arrested and made his first appearance in the Eenhana Magistrate's Court on Monday. His case was postponed to September 21, 2010.

Chief Inspector Abner Agas of Ohangwena Regional Police Serious Crime Investigation Unit confirmed the incident.

According to the school principal, Amunyela who is originally from Ongula-yanatenga village, had just returned to the hostel. He was earlier expelled from the school for picking up a fight within the school premises.

"But when the examination started, we decided to call all the Grade 12 learners - Amunyela included - to the hostel in order to give them a suitable environment to study," said Sheya.

Sheya said there is a worrisome aggressive behaviour that is developing among male learners.

"Our youth should understand that they are the heirs of this country. And the reason why they are kept in school is to prepare them for the future succession of this country, but they can only do that if they have love for themselves and other people," said Sheya.