I didn't do it - NIMT suspect

NIMT employee Ernst Lichtenstrasser (57) was finally charged with the murders of Eckhart Mueller and Heimo Hellwig at Arandis.Lichtenstrasser appeared before the Swakopmund's Magistrate's Court yesterday morning. Lichtenstrassen denied committing the murders upon his arrival at court. “I didn't do it. They've got the wrong guy. Check the background of the case,” he said. Namibia Institute of Mining Technology (NIMT) executive director Eckhard Mueller and his deputy, Heimo Hellwig, were shot at close range when they reported for duty at the Arandis campus on Monday, 15 April. Lichtenstrasser has been in police custody for the last three weeks on a minor charge of ammunition possession. He remained a person of interest in the murder but could only be charged this week.State prosecutor Maria Shilongo opposed bail because of the seriousness of the offence, the public interest and the ongoing police investigation into the case. Magistrate Nelao Brown postponed the case to 24 July. Lichtenstrasser will remain in custody at the Walvis Bay police holding cells despite complaining about conditions there and requesting to be held at the Arandis police station instead. He claimed that he suffered from an illness and needed regular check-ups. “The conditions of the Walvis Bay Police holdings cells are very unhygienic and the police are overburdened with the number of people in the cells. The Walvis Bay police are not to be blamed for the conditions I am suffering,” he said. Magistrate Brown suggested that he could be moved to the Walvis Bay Correctional Facility, but Lichtenstrasser objected to that too. “The Arandis holdings cells are much cleaner due to the small number of people in custody. Here I will also be closer to my wife and lawyer, who is based in Windhoek.” Shilongo objected, saying that the murders took place in Arandis and Lichtenstrasser's NIMT colleagues also live there. “It would not be in the interest of justice, nor will it be safe for him to be held at Arandis. The Walvis Bay Correctional Facility is more than capable to cater to the needs and ailments of the accused person,” the prosecutor said. Brown then said if Lichtenstrasser was unhappy with the conditions at Walvis Bay his lawyer could approach the state prosecutor to make other arrangements. LEANDREA LOUW

I didn't do it - NIMT suspect

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Namibian Sun 2025-06-18

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I didn't do it - NIMT suspect

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Namibian Sun 2025-06-18

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