Two American citizens accused of murdering a young man in Windhoek nearly 12 and a half years ago suffered a setback in their trial in the Windhoek High Court on Monday.
United States citizens Marcus Thomas (37) and Kevan Townsend (37) suffered the setback when judge Christie Liebenberg dismissed applications by them to be found not guilty on all charges after the end of the state’s case in their trial.
The judge dismissed their attempt to be discharged after saying that in his view the prosecution’s evidence before him showed there is a case on which Thomas and Townsend should give answers.
After hearing Liebenberg’s ruling, the lawyers defending the two accused men both informed the judge their clients have chosen not to testify in their own defence, and that they were closing their defence cases without presenting any further evidence to the court.
Thomas and Townsend are accused of murdering a 25-year-old man, Andre Heckmair, in Windhoek on 7 January 2011.
Heckmair was killed when he was shot in the head while sitting in a car in the Klein Windhoek area of Windhoek.
The two men’s trial is scheduled to continue with the hearing of closing arguments on 21 July.
They have both been held in custody since their arrest at a guest house in Windhoek on 7 January 2011.
- Read more in the next edition of The Namibian
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