Suspect dies, cops blamed

THE family of 45-year-old Noël Thompson, arrested for alleged domestic violence at around 06h00 on Sunday, are blaming the Keetmanshoop Police for his death.

Six hours after his arrest, Thompson was dead. Family members accuse the Police of beating him to death, a charge denied by NamPol’s Deputy Commissioner for the Karas Region, Josephat Abel.Contacted for comment, Abel denied the allegation that the suspect was killed by the Police.He told The Namibian that the suspect had been locked up in a cell with two other inmates.According to the Deputy Commissioner, a fight broke out between inmates and Thompson sustained injuries that could have led to his death.The allegation comes only days after the Inspector General of the Namibian Police, Lieutenant General Sebastian Ndeitunga, issued a serious warning against alleged rights abuses by some members of the Police.He said allegations of this nature were tarnishing the image of the Police, and called on Police commanders to ensure they were thoroughly investigated.’HE WAS HEALTHY’ Noël Thompson’s brother, Gregory Thompson, yesterday claimed that the deceased had been in good health before his arrest.”My brother was in a healthy condition, and his passing has sent shock waves through his family members and community members,” he said.According to Thompson, a Constable Titsol dropped Noël off at his house after taking him to hospital to receive stitches for open wounds on his left wrist and eye.”His stomach was also full of bruises, which tells us that my brother was a victim of brutal assault,” Thompson said.He said the Police told him that his brother sustained the injuries when he tried to commit suicide with a knife in the holding cells.Thompson said his brother was fully dressed before the Police arrested him, but was dropped off at his house wearing only his trousers.Thompson further claimed that Constable Titsol turned down a suggestion by a nurse who wanted to admit his brother to the hospital for observation.”I was told by the nurse that Titsol rejected her request to admit my brother, saying detainees are not allowed to be admitted,” Thompson told The Namibian.”I was told by the nurse that Titsol promised her that he would bring my brother back to the hospital the following day, but he instead dropped him on his house stoep to die,” he claimed.Family members accuse the Police of beating him to death, a charge denied by NamPol’s Deputy Commissioner for the Karas Region, Josephat Abel.Contacted for comment, Abel denied the allegation that the suspect was killed by the Police.He told The Namibian that the suspect had been locked up in a cell with two other inmates.According to the Deputy Commissioner, a fight broke out between inmates and Thompson sustained injuries that could have led to his death.The allegation comes only days after the Inspector General of the Namibian Police, Lieutenant General Sebastian Ndeitunga, issued a serious warning against alleged rights abuses by some members of the Police.He said allegations of this nature were tarnishing the image of the Police, and called on Police commanders to ensure they were thoroughly investigated.’HE WAS HEALTHY’ Noël Thompson’s brother, Gregory Thompson, yesterday claimed that the deceased had been in good health before his arrest.”My brother was in a healthy condition, and his passing has sent shock waves through his family members and community members,” he said.According to Thompson, a Constable Titsol dropped Noël off at his house after taking him to hospital to receive stitches for open wounds on his left wrist and eye.”His stomach was also full of bruises, which tells us that my brother was a victim of brutal assault,” Thompson said.He said the Police told him that his brother sustained the injuries when he tried to commit suicide with a knife in the holding cells. Thompson said his brother was fully dressed before the Police arrested him, but was dropped off at his house wearing only his trousers.Thompson further claimed that Constable Titsol turned down a suggestion by a nurse who wanted to admit his brother to the hospital for observation.”I was told by the nurse that Titsol rejected her request to admit my brother, saying detainees are not allowed to be admitted,” Thompson told The Namibian.”I was told by the nurse that Titsol promised her that he would bring my brother back to the hospital the following day, but he instead dropped him on his house stoep to die,” he claimed.