Woermann robber convicted

WINDHOEKFRED GOEIEMAN
A 56-year-old man - accused of robbing the Woermann Brock supermarket in Khomasdal in 2008 - has been convicted of several charges related to the incident, including three attempted murder charges.
High Court Judge Nate Ndauendapo yesterday convicted John Matheus Frans Tjappa.
He was found guilty of robbery with aggravating circumstances, three attempted murder charges, the negligent discharge or handling of a firearm, possession of a firearm without a license and the possession of ammunition.
On October 11, 2008 the supermarket was closing for the day when a group of men that included the accused, entered with firearms. They ordered all customers and staff to lie down on floor.
They then proceeded to threaten to assault staff and demanded that they hand over all the money in the tills and in the safe.
Tjappa fled from the store with at least two bags of money and also had some of the cash stuffed in his clothing.
In an attempt to escape from the police and members of public who were trying to arrest him, he fired numerous shots with a revolver for which he did not have a license. The accused failed to escape and was arrested in a nearby storm water pipe.
His accomplices managed to flee the scene and are still at large.
Ndauendapo ruled yesterday that Tjappa had been positively identified as the person who wielded the firearm in the supermarket and ordered people to lie down.
“The accused was seen carrying money bags and holding a revolver,” he stressed.
According to the judge, the evidence of the witnesses was credible as they corroborated each other. The revolver used by the accused was later retrieved from the storm water pipe, where he had attempted to hide. It was further found that he had acted negligently by firing the gunshots while fleeing.
During his bail application, it was established that Tjappa had spent the most part of his life in prison and has been released on parole twice over a period of 25 years. His bail application was rejected by both the lower and higher courts.
The matter has been postponed until August 7 for sentencing.