US murder suspects object to ‘unauthorised’ search

Two US nationals charged with the killing of a young Namibian in Windhoek in 2011 want evidence obtained during a search of their guest house in the city to be excluded from their trial. Lawyers representing Marcus Thomas and Kevan Townsend informed High Court Justice Christie Liebenberg in the Windhoek High Court on Tuesday that the search was conducted without a warrant. As a result of the objection against the evidence, the court has started a trial within a trial to rule on the matter. The Namibian reports that the state alleges that Thomas (36) and Townsend (35) travelled to Namibia in late December 2010 to carry out a plan to murder Andre Heckmair (25). The accused face charges of murder, possession of a firearm and ammunition without a licence and importation of firearm parts into Namibia without a permit. Investigating officer Joseph Ndokosho last week testified that one of his colleagues requested a record of Heckmair's cellphone activities the day after the killing.