WINDHOEK: In a pivotal decision on Thursday, Judge Christie Liebenberg of the High Court found Ernst Lichtenstrasser guilty of murdering Namibian Institute of Mining and Technology (NIMT) Executive Director Eckhart Mueller and Deputy Director Heimo Hellwig, dismissing his claims of innocence as fabricated.
According to NAMPA, Mueller and Hellwig were fatally shot on the morning of 15 April 2019 at the NIMT campus in Arandis, shortly after their arrival at work. In delivering his verdict, Judge Liebenberg stated that Lichtenstrasser’s account of the incident lacked credibility.
Lichtenstrasser, who was previously positioned at the NIMT campus in Tsumeb, was facing an unwelcome transfer to the Keetmanshoop campus, a circumstance the court deemed a possible motive. Throughout the trial, Lichtenstrasser maintained his innocence and refrained from submitting a plea explanation, instead challenging the prosecution to substantiate the charges. However, despite initially confessing to the crime following his arrest on 16 April 2019, Lichtenstrasser later recanted his confession. Nonetheless, the High Court ruled to include his initial admission in the evidence.
The judgement also underscored the improbability that Lichtenstrasser’s presence on the coast at the time of the killings was mere happenstance. He was apprehended in the town of Karibib.
During the trial, Lichtenstrasser contended that his confession was coerced due to police intimidation and testified to having suicidal thoughts after realizing the gravity of his actions. Notably, on the day of the murders, he was scheduled to commence his duties at the Keetmanshoop campus, but the judge concluded that Lichtenstrasser had no intention of honoring this commitment.