THE trial of two men accused of carrying out a violent attack on an elderly couple at Uis in the Erongo Region in October 2010 was postponed for almost eight months in the Windhoek High Court this week.

A ruling is expected to be given on the admissibility of an alleged admission made by one of the accused men following his arrest when the trial resumes before Judge Alfred Siboleka on 17 March next year.

The trial of Charles Namiseb and Edwin Tourob was postponed on Tuesday, after Judge Siboleka heard arguments in a trial within a trial which was held to decide if a statement made by Namiseb may be used as evidence by the prosecution.

Namiseb is claiming that he was assaulted by police officers and that his rights were not explained to him before he made the alleged admission to a senior police officer on 9 October 2010. He had been arrested at Swakopmund three days previously.

The two men are accused of carrying out a bloody attack on an elderly couple at Uis on 3 October 2010.

During the attack, a 72-year-old man was assaulted when he was struck on the head with a spade, before he was dragged into his and his wife's house, where he was tied up with an electrical cord.

His wife, then 69 years old, was also assaulted and tied up in the house by two assailants, the prosecution is alleging.

Having tied up the woman, the two attackers raped her, it is alleged.

She was seriously injured in the attack. The assailants allegedly also robbed the couple by stealing their car, money, two firearms and jewellery, with a total value of about N$78 900.

Namiseb and Tourob pleaded not guilty to two charges of attempted murder, a charge of robbery with aggravating circumstances, and three counts of rape each at the start of their trial on 10 July.

Tourob was arrested a day after the attack. Both men are being kept in custody.