Hit-and-run suspect in court, gets bail

THE suspect arrested in connection with a fatal hit-and-run accident in Windhoek’s Olympia residential area on Sunday morning was granted bail of N$10 000 when he made a first court appearance yesterday.

A Swakopmund resident, Michael Ellinger (27), who was on a visit to Windhoek over the weekend, was killed when he was allegedly hit by a car on Mosé Tjitendero Street in Olympia at about 01h30 on Sunday. Ellinger was well known in inline hockey circles, having been a member of the Namibian national team in the sport.Ellinger is thought to have been walking to the house where he was staying with a cousin of his when he was hit by a car. When a passer-by found Ellinger lying mortally injured in the street, broken car parts were also found lying at the scene.The suspect, Pionierspark resident Riaan De Wet Vermeulen (23), was reportedly arrested late on Monday evening.Vermeulen made a first appearance in the Windhoek Magistrate’s Court yesterday. He is charged with counts of culpable homicide and failing to ascertain damages after a road accident.He was granted bail after Public Prosecutor Helena Iipinge told Magistrate Ingrid Soabes that the State was recommending that he be granted bail in an amount of N$10 000.On a request from the Prosecutor, Vermeulen’s case was postponed to April 30 for further investigations to be done.Vermeulen was represented by defence lawyer Evert Gous.