German tourist slaying: Erongo residents asked to co-operate

POLICE were still searching yesterday for suspects in the murder of German tourist Johannes Fellinger who was shot dead on the Daan Viljoen road outside of Windhoek a week ago.

The 56-year old Fellinger was shot dead in cold blood after two men appeared seemingly from out of nowhere after he and his wife Elke (52) had stopped their rented bakkie on a mountainous road on the Khomas Hochland area, so he could take pictures of the scene. Police spokesman Chief Inspector Angula Amulungu confirmed that someone was questioned last week but turned out to have had “no link whatsoever” to the murder.”The person was questioned because he was also in an accident earlier but he was found completely clean,” Amulungu said yesterday.The suspects were also involved in a car accident near Otjimbingwe after they fled the scene.Fellinger was shot in the head after he intervened when the suspects attacked his wife.The robbers then apparently loaded his body into the vehicle next to his wife and drove for some distance before eventually dropping his body off in a riverbed.The suspects then drove to the farm Okariro, where they stopped and rifled through the couple’s possessions.They apparently also changed into some of the deceased’s clothing and in an attempt to destroy any evidence, burnt the camouflage attire they had been wearing while committing this heinous crime.The suspects were spotted by the owner of the farm, which led to a car chase and the driver of the stolen vehicle finally overturning the rented bakkie at the Otjimbingwe turn-off.Fellinger’s wife suffered slight injuries during this incident, Police said.The suspects, one apparently injured, managed to flee on foot leaving behind three pistols and a two-way radio.Amulungu said Police were still searching the Otjimbingwe district.Meanwhile, Damara traditional leader Chief Immanuel /Gaseb called on the people in the Erongo Region to help the Police in their search./Gaseb said Erongo residents need to cooperate and not harbour criminals because ultimately tourism will be the big loser if criminal activities were not curtailed.”I’m not saying they (suspects) are Damaras but I call on the residents to cooperate with the Police.The local traditional leaders must also be on alert,” he said.He expressed the hope that the latest attack will not scare tourists away from Erongo.Police spokesman Chief Inspector Angula Amulungu confirmed that someone was questioned last week but turned out to have had “no link whatsoever” to the murder.”The person was questioned because he was also in an accident earlier but he was found completely clean,” Amulungu said yesterday.The suspects were also involved in a car accident near Otjimbingwe after they fled the scene.Fellinger was shot in the head after he intervened when the suspects attacked his wife.The robbers then apparently loaded his body into the vehicle next to his wife and drove for some distance before eventually dropping his body off in a riverbed.The suspects then drove to the farm Okariro, where they stopped and rifled through the couple’s possessions.They apparently also changed into some of the deceased’s clothing and in an attempt to destroy any evidence, burnt the camouflage attire they had been wearing while committing this heinous crime.The suspects were spotted by the owner of the farm, which led to a car chase and the driver of the stolen vehicle finally overturning the rented bakkie at the Otjimbingwe turn-off.Fellinger’s wife suffered slight injuries during this incident, Police said.The suspects, one apparently injured, managed to flee on foot leaving behind three pistols and a two-way radio.Amulungu said Police were still searching the Otjimbingwe district.Meanwhile, Damara traditional leader Chief Immanuel /Gaseb called on the people in the Erongo Region to help the Police in their search./Gaseb said Erongo residents need to cooperate and not harbour criminals because ultimately tourism will be the big loser if criminal activities were not curtailed.”I’m not saying they (suspects) are Damaras but I call on the residents to cooperate with the Police.The local traditional leaders must also be on alert,” he said.He expressed the hope that the latest attack will not scare tourists away from Erongo.