Accused injured during court journey

A police van transporting seven trial-awaiting prisoners was involved in an accident this past Friday morning in Windhoek. Among the prisoners involved in the accident were the two American murder suspects Marcus Kevin Tomas and Kevan Donell Townsend. The accident occurred on the corner of John Meinert Street and Hosea Kutako Avenue. Police spokesperson, Inspector Slogan Matheus, confirmed the accident saying he was called to the scene at around 09:45. According to Matheus, the police van was transporting the inmates from the Windhoek Correctional Facility to the High Court when the accident occurred. He said the police van was driving with sirens and flashing lights. While other motorists gave way to the police van, a taxi ignored it and bumped into the vehicle. According to Matheus the police van landed on top of another taxi. He said all the inmates were taken to hospital, but he could not confirm the seriousness of their injuries. Matheus added that the officer who was driving the van and the two taxi drivers did not sustain serious injuries. As a result of the accident, the two Americans were not able to appear before the High Court as scheduled, and their case has been postponed to 27 May. Thomas and Townsend face charges of murder, robbery with aggravating circumstances, three counts of contravening the Ammunitions Act and defeating or obstructing or attempting to defeat or obstruct the course of justice. They are charged in connection with the murder of Cattle Baron heir Andre Heckmair in 2011. WINDHOEK ELLANIE SMIT