Detainee charged with Thompson’s death

A SUSPECT being held in the Keetmanshoop Police cells on Wednesday made a brief appearance in the Keetmanshoop Magistrate’s Court on a charge of murder.

Noel Thompson (42) died shortly after his release from custody at Keetmanshoop last week. Charles Vries allegedly beat Thompson to death during a fight in the holding cell.The Namibian was reliably informed that Vries sustained minor injuries in the brawl.Thompson’s family have accused the Police of being responsible for his death.The case was postponed until June 8 for further investigation and for Vries to apply for legal aid.Vries remains in custody.He is also awaiting trial on his original charge, one of domestic violence.Thompson was certified dead six hours after his arrest on a charge of domestic violence.Thompson suffered seven fractured ribs, a ruptured liver and multiple bruises to his head and body.Deputy Commissioner Marius Visser of the Detective Unit in Windhoek, who is leading the investigation into Thompson’s death, on Wednesday said statements had been taken from eight Police officers, including those who were on duty at the time of Thompson’s arrest.He said these statements would be forwarded to the Prosecutor General to decide whether any Police officer should be prosecuted in connection with Thompson’s murder.Visser is also investigating the circumstances under which another suspect died last week while in custody at the Rosh Pinah Police station in the South.In an earlier interview, NamPol’s Deputy Commission in Karas, Josephat Abel, said the suspect committed suicide by setting himself on fire and died of suffocation and multiple burns.Thompson is the second person in a year to die in the custody of the Keetmanshoop Police.Charles Vries allegedly beat Thompson to death during a fight in the holding cell.The Namibian was reliably informed that Vries sustained minor injuries in the brawl.Thompson’s family have accused the Police of being responsible for his death.The case was postponed until June 8 for further investigation and for Vries to apply for legal aid.Vries remains in custody.He is also awaiting trial on his original charge, one of domestic violence.Thompson was certified dead six hours after his arrest on a charge of domestic violence.Thompson suffered seven fractured ribs, a ruptured liver and multiple bruises to his head and body.Deputy Commissioner Marius Visser of the Detective Unit in Windhoek, who is leading the investigation into Thompson’s death, on Wednesday said statements had been taken from eight Police officers, including those who were on duty at the time of Thompson’s arrest.He said these statements would be forwarded to the Prosecutor General to decide whether any Police officer should be prosecuted in connection with Thompson’s murder.Visser is also investigating the circumstances under which another suspect died last week while in custody at the Rosh Pinah Police station in the South.In an earlier interview, NamPol’s Deputy Commission in Karas, Josephat Abel, said the suspect committed suicide by setting himself on fire and died of suffocation and multiple burns.Thompson is the second person in a year to die in the custody of the Keetmanshoop Police.