Lichtenstrasser accused of lying about medical issues

State prosecutor Antonia Verhoef last week argued that double murder accused Ernst Lichtenstrasser could not provide evidence of the alleged medical issues that had delayed a scheduled transfer from the Nimt Tsumeb campus to the campus in Keetmanshoop.Lichtenstrasser, who is on trial for the 2019 murders of Nimt directors Eckhart Mueller and Heimo Hellwig, had been ordered to report for work at the south campus in March 2019 but, due to health issues in April and following sick leave of about one month, he reported again for work at the north campus."I informed by (Jan) Annandale of the fact that I had to stay until the 15th for a follow-up, but that was not the only reason. By then I had already raised the issue of the relocation costs," he told the court.Paper trailDuring cross-examination, Verhoef argued that the alleged health problems Lichtenstrasser said he experienced were not supported due to a lack of evidence, including a lack of medical or other records.She said Lichtenstrasser spent the day of an important medical appointment in the desert."Your behaviour shows carelessness. Based on your behaviour, the state believes there was never a medical appointment," Verhoef told Lichtenstrasser.Lichtenstrasser explained that, at the time, he did not believe it would cause problems if he underwent the electrocardiogram a day later.Above and beyondVerhoef further claimed that Lichtenstrasser demanded more from Nimt than was outlined in his employment contract. She told the court that, among other things, Lichtenstrasser also asked for a fuel allowance, while his employment contract stipulated that Nimt would only cover the transport of his furniture.He responded saying previous Nimt employees had received these benefits and because of this he felt he was entitled to these demands.Confession disputeOn Wednesday, Lichtenstrasser testified about a voice recording the police made in 2019, in which he admitted to the murder of Mueller and Hellwig in 2019. The recording was submitted to court in December.He told judge Christie Liebenberg that the alleged admission of guilt came after police inspector Loodewyk van Graan promised him that he could talk to his wife after admitting guilt.He testified that he believed that this confession was "preliminary" and that after being instructed by Van Graan, he understood that he would be expected to give a more formal confession before a magistrate.PressuredIn the recording, Lichtenstrasser explains that he was waiting for Mueller at the turnoff at Arandis, but that he had conflicting thoughts. "It was like there were two sides to me. I was constantly asking myself if this was worth it. One side said I should just talk to him [Mueller], and the other saw us as enemies."Lichtenstrasser also explained to Van Graan during the confession that he felt like he was on a "mission".He told Van Graan that he never believed he would get away with the murder.Lichtenstrasser told the court that the similarities between his account on the recording and the details of events related to the murders were the result of "conditioning" by police officers.He told the court several times that police members had revealed details to him during previous interrogations.He also claimed that, during the confession, Sergeant Mattheo Mulauli, took an "intimidating" position towards him during his confession.

Lichtenstrasser accused of lying about medical issues

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Namibian Sun 2025-05-02

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Lichtenstrasser accused of lying about medical issues

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Namibian Sun 2025-05-02

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