Tourist killing: suspect held

POLICE in the North have arrested a man in connection with the robbery and murder of a German tourist at a historic ruin west of Windhoek a month ago.

Oshana Police Commander Deputy Commissioner Ndahangwapo Kashihakumwa told The Namibian that the Police arrested Fanuel Festus Shipanga (37) at Ondangwa on Friday. Shipanga was charged with murder and aggravated robbery.He is the first person to be arrested in connection with the killing of a German tourist, Johannes Fellinger, at the Francois Feste ruins in the Khomas Hochland some 60 kilometres east of Windhoek on July 8.The 56-year-old Fellinger, who was a professional photographer, was shot in the head when he reportedly tried to come to his wife’s rescue while she was being attacked by two armed men at the ruins.Having killed Fellinger, the attackers loaded his body into the bakkie that Fellinger and his wife had rented upon their arrival in Namibia a few hours earlier, and set off on a gravel road leading from the site of the attack.They later dumped Fellinger’s body before continuing on their way, with the captive Mrs Fellinger still with them in the vehicle.When the vehicle eventually overturned during their flight, the attackers fled on foot into the rugged, rocky terrain of the Khomas Hochland.Police teams that searched the area for days afterwards did not manage to track down the two suspects.Shipanga appeared before Magistrate Thomas Kanime in the Oshakati Magistrate’s Court yesterday.He was not asked to plead and the case was postponed to August 15 for further investigation.Because Shipanga lives at the Havana informal settlement in Windhoek and the crimes he is accused of were committed in the Windhoek district, Magistrate Kanime transferred his case to the Windhoek Magistrate’s Court in Katutura, where he has to appear on August 15.Kashihakumwa thanked the public for the good co-operation that led to Shipanga’s arrest.Shipanga was charged with murder and aggravated robbery.He is the first person to be arrested in connection with the killing of a German tourist, Johannes Fellinger, at the Francois Feste ruins in the Khomas Hochland some 60 kilometres east of Windhoek on July 8.The 56-year-old Fellinger, who was a professional photographer, was shot in the head when he reportedly tried to come to his wife’s rescue while she was being attacked by two armed men at the ruins.Having killed Fellinger, the attackers loaded his body into the bakkie that Fellinger and his wife had rented upon their arrival in Namibia a few hours earlier, and set off on a gravel road leading from the site of the attack.They later dumped Fellinger’s body before continuing on their way, with the captive Mrs Fellinger still with them in the vehicle. When the vehicle eventually overturned during their flight, the attackers fled on foot into the rugged, rocky terrain of the Khomas Hochland.Police teams that searched the area for days afterwards did not manage to track down the two suspects.Shipanga appeared before Magistrate Thomas Kanime in the Oshakati Magistrate’s Court yesterday.He was not asked to plead and the case was postponed to August 15 for further investigation.Because Shipanga lives at the Havana informal settlement in Windhoek and the crimes he is accused of were committed in the Windhoek district, Magistrate Kanime transferred his case to the Windhoek Magistrate’s Court in Katutura, where he has to appear on August 15.Kashihakumwa thanked the public for the good co-operation that led to Shipanga’s arrest.