Jones brothers on run: they’re dangerous, warn the Police

THE Namibian Police have launched a manhunt for two murder suspects, brothers Chris and Ian Jones, who are on the run.

They are thought to have escaped from the holding cells at the Windhoek Magistrate’s Court between 13h00 and 14h00 yesterday. They later hijacked a vehicle and kidnapped the woman driver at knifepoint.The brothers dumped her at the University of Namibia campus.The pair have been in custody for two years while awaiting their trial on a charge that they had robbed, kidnapped and murdered Windhoek businessman Gero Schaum in February 2002.The Police have sent an urgent appeal to the public to be on the lookout for the brothers.According to a Police spokesperson, Deputy Commissioner Hophni Hamufungu, the pair hijacked the vehicle near the De Beers flats in Windhoek at about 15h45.The driver was reportedly found tied up in bushes near the University of Namibia.The two made their getaway in a metallic green Nissan V6 bakkie, registration number N36706W.The vehicle is a four-wheel drive, single cab bakkie with a green canopy.Hamufungu said it was suspected that the Joneses could have had insider help.He said there did not appear to be signs of a forced breakout.The Police have described the two brothers as dangerous and armed with at least a knife.The Police asked the public to contact the nearest Police station or Serious Crime Unit members Detective Chief Inspector Nelius Becker or Detective Inspector Michael Booysen if they spot either of the two fugitive suspects.The darkish blond Ian Jones, aged 26, and the dark-haired Chris Jones, aged about 27, are accused of shooting businessman Schaum through the head twice after they had kidnapped him from his home in Klein Windhoek on February 14 2002.They allegedly robbed Schaum of N$400 000 in cash that he had kept in a safe in his house.After that incident, Ian Jones allegedly fled to South Africa, where he was later arrested.According to Hamufungu, it is highly likely that he and his brother may again try to leave the country.Becker can be contacted at (cellphone) 081 129 9215; Booysen at 081 128 5717.They later hijacked a vehicle and kidnapped the woman driver at knifepoint.The brothers dumped her at the University of Namibia campus.The pair have been in custody for two years while awaiting their trial on a charge that they had robbed, kidnapped and murdered Windhoek businessman Gero Schaum in February 2002.The Police have sent an urgent appeal to the public to be on the lookout for the brothers.According to a Police spokesperson, Deputy Commissioner Hophni Hamufungu, the pair hijacked the vehicle near the De Beers flats in Windhoek at about 15h45.The driver was reportedly found tied up in bushes near the University of Namibia.The two made their getaway in a metallic green Nissan V6 bakkie, registration number N36706W.The vehicle is a four-wheel drive, single cab bakkie with a green canopy.Hamufungu said it was suspected that the Joneses could have had insider help.He said there did not appear to be signs of a forced breakout.The Police have described the two brothers as dangerous and armed with at least a knife.The Police asked the public to contact the nearest Police station or Serious Crime Unit members Detective Chief Inspector Nelius Becker or Detective Inspector Michael Booysen if they spot either of the two fugitive suspects.The darkish blond Ian Jones, aged 26, and the dark-haired Chris Jones, aged about 27, are accused of shooting businessman Schaum through the head twice after they had kidnapped him from his home in Klein Windhoek on February 14 2002.They allegedly robbed Schaum of N$400 000 in cash that he had kept in a safe in his house.After that incident, Ian Jones allegedly fled to South Africa, where he was later arrested.According to Hamufungu, it is highly likely that he and his brother may again try to leave the country.Becker can be contacted at (cellphone) 081 129 9215; Booysen at 081 128 5717.