Three arrested over Goreangab murder

THE Police have arrested three suspects in connection with the murder of 35-year-old German national Ralph Kohnke, whose charred remains were found by a passer-by behind the Goreangab Dam in Windhoek on December 29.

A 35-year-old man was arrested in Windhoek’s Central Business District on Wednesday afternoon, while two others were arrested in Rundu yesterday. Police Chief Inspector Hieronymus Goraseb said yesterday that one of the suspects had confessed to the crime.He said the arrests also helped the Police to positively identify the murder victim as Kohnke, although a forensic identification of Kohnke’s dental records was still being pursued for legal purposes.Following the discovery of the body last Thursday, Police said their investigations led them to Kohnke’s house in Windhoek West, where they found a blood-stained kitchen and bundles of counterfeit money wrapped in refuse bags.Police also found a brick in the house which, judging from the post-mortem examination, could have been the murder weapon.The cause of death was a blow to the head, according to Chief Inspector Manfred Sass of the Serious Crime Unit.It appeared that the body was burnt after being dumped behind the Goreangab Dam, Sass told The Namibian during a visit to the site on Wednesday.The three men, whose identities can only be released after they have appeared in court, are set to appear in the Windhoek Magistrate’s Court today on charges of murder and robbery with aggravating circumstances.The latter charge stems from the discovery of Kohnke’s Toyota Condor by residents of Windhoek’s Havana informal settlement in their area last Tuesday.One of the residents, Johannes Nawemab, decided to drive the car to the Police station when its owner could not be found.The car was found with the keys in the ignition and the radio still playing.Police Chief Inspector Hieronymus Goraseb said yesterday that one of the suspects had confessed to the crime.He said the arrests also helped the Police to positively identify the murder victim as Kohnke, although a forensic identification of Kohnke’s dental records was still being pursued for legal purposes.Following the discovery of the body last Thursday, Police said their investigations led them to Kohnke’s house in Windhoek West, where they found a blood-stained kitchen and bundles of counterfeit money wrapped in refuse bags.Police also found a brick in the house which, judging from the post-mortem examination, could have been the murder weapon.The cause of death was a blow to the head, according to Chief Inspector Manfred Sass of the Serious Crime Unit.It appeared that the body was burnt after being dumped behind the Goreangab Dam, Sass told The Namibian during a visit to the site on Wednesday.The three men, whose identities can only be released after they have appeared in court, are set to appear in the Windhoek Magistrate’s Court today on charges of murder and robbery with aggravating circumstances.The latter charge stems from the discovery of Kohnke’s Toyota Condor by residents of Windhoek’s Havana informal settlement in their area last Tuesday.One of the residents, Johannes Nawemab, decided to drive the car to the Police station when its owner could not be found.The car was found with the keys in the ignition and the radio still playing.