Two Americans accused of murdering a younger man in Windhoek close to the beginning of 2011 are attributable to hear the decision of their long-running trial within the Windhoek Excessive Courtroom in September.
Choose Christie Liebenberg postponed the supply of his judgement within the trial of Marcus Thomas (38) and Kevan Townsend (37) to six September, after listening to closing oral arguments within the matter from deputy prosecutor common Antonia Verhoef and defence attorneys Salomon Kanyemba and Mbanga Siyomunji on Friday. The state is alleging that Thomas and Townsend murdered the 25-year-old Andre Heckmair by capturing him within the head in a automobile within the Klein Windhoek space of Windhoek on 7 January 2011.
The state can be accusing Thomas and Townsend of getting travelled from america to Namibia close to the top of December 2010 to hold out a plan to kill Heckmair, who was finding out at a hospitality college in Switzerland earlier than his dying and had spent a part of 2010 working in New York Metropolis in america.
Heckmair’s girlfriend on the time of his dying had beforehand been concerned in a romantic relationship with Thomas, the courtroom has been advised.
The 2 People’ trial began in November 2014, after they denied guilt on seven costs, together with counts of homicide, theft with aggravating circumstances, importation of two firearm barrels into Namibia or possession of the barrels with no licence, and possession of a 7,65mm pistol and ammunition with no licence. They didn’t testify in their very own defence after the state concluded its case in opposition to them in Could this yr.
Kanyemba and Siyomunji each argued on Friday that the state “failed dismally” to show that Thomas and Townsend had been concerned within the killing of Heckmair.
They each famous there was no direct proof linking the 2 accused males to the scene the place Heckmair was shot, and that no belongings of Heckmair had been discovered of their possession after he had been killed.
Kanyemba argued that the case “has been all about suspicions […] not conclusive, dependable proof”.
He additionally argued that the state was counting on the testimony of “self-confessed criminals” who advised the courtroom a few transaction through which Thomas and Townsend purchased a 7,65mm pistol and ammunition in Windhoek close to the beginning of January 2011.
Siyomunji argued that two firearm barrels and a gun silencer that the police stated had been discovered within the People’ visitor home room two days after their arrest on 7 January 2011 had been planted within the room by cops who had been decided to incriminate the 2 males. Verhoef argued that the firearm barrels and silencer, which in response to a firearms skilled had been new and had not been used earlier than, shaped a part of circumstantial proof of a plan to kill Heckmair and customary function between Thomas and Townsend.
She famous that the testimony heard in the course of the trial was flooded with proof that Thomas and Townsend moved round Windhoek collectively, searching for a firearm to purchase, after they arrived in Namibia on 27 December 2010.
Verhoef additionally argued that Thomas and Townsend tried to get details about Heckmair as quickly as they’d arrived in Namibia.
State witnesses within the gun transaction with Thomas and Townsend stated they had been initially searching for a 9mm pistol to purchase – which is similar calibre of the firearms barrels and silencer that the police stated they discovered of their visitor home room – however ended up shopping for a 7,65mm pistol and ammunition.
Heckmair was shot with a 7,65mm bullet, it was found throughout a autopsy examination.
Verhoef additionally famous that in response to one of many witnesses concerned within the sale of the firearm to the 2 People, Thomas stated to him on the afternoon of seven January 2011 – after the time that Heckmair was killed – that one didn’t need to be discovered with a gun that had been used and that he had “tossed it away”.
She argued that the 2 accused needs to be convicted on all costs.
Thomas and Townsend have been held in custody since their arrest.
Supply: namibian
