Murder suspects escape from police holding cells in Swakopmund

Story from the Namibian written by Adam Hartman

FOUR trial-awaiting inmates facing two separate murder charges escaped from a holding cell at the Swakopmund Police Station on Monday.

Erongo crime investigations coordinator Erastus Iikuyu yesterday said they escaped through a window during a shift change between 14h00 and 15h00.

“It was discovered that the burglar bar of one holding cell window was cut with an unknown object,” he explained.

Two of the escapees are Stefanus Daniel (24) and Lazarus Fabian (24), charged with the killing of the elderly Strzelecki couple at their Swakopmund home in August 2017. A third accused in the case, Jerobeam Shidute (23), is still in custody at the same police station.

The other two escapees are Matias Nujoma (25) and Ngenokesho Stefanus (23), who were allegedly involved in the killing of a taxi driver at Walvis Bay in 2016.

Daniel, Fabian and Shidute are facing seven counts involving conspiracy to rob and murder, housebreaking, robbery and murder, as well as hindering the course of justice. 

The state considers Fabian as the 'mastermind' behind the plot that resulted in the killing of the Strzeleckis in 2017.

It is alleged they broke into the Strzeleckis house in Vineta with the intention to break into a safe and steal what they allegedly thought would be lots of money, so that they would never have to work again.

It is further alleged that they confronted Roswitha Strzelecki (79) in the house and assaulted her, tying her feet and taping her mouth before strangling her to death. Her husband, Siegfried Strzelecki (81), attempted to rescue his wife, but was also beaten and strangled and left for dead. He died a week later from injuries he sustained in the assault.

The suspects failed to open the safe, but they stole a mobile phone, the remote control device for the house, and Roswitha's sandals and N$1 000.

Nujoma and Stefanus were allegedly involved in the killing of a taxi driver at Walvis Bay in 2016. It is alleged they stabbed him after a confrontation over payment for his services.

Iikuyu said most of the suspects are from the north, and it is suspected they may have fled thereto, or possibly to Windhoek – both of which are densely populated, where they may try to hide.

Anyone with information regarding the whereabouts of the fugitives can contact Iikuyu on 081 246 4757, detective warrant officer Hermuth Marine on 081 765 3608, detective sergeant Gariseb on 081 203 1808, or report to the nearest police station.

“They are very dangerous, so do not confront them. Call the police,” advised Iikuyu.

The Namibian understands that such escapes are designed in such a way that as many detainees as possible escape over some time before it is detected.

For instance, as with the three accused in the Strzelecki case, one stayed behind in a full cell and made sure the escape route was closed and concealed to facilitate another escape bid later. It is said to be a form of 'pilfering'; little by little, so that it is not so easily detected. 

It may even have been that more inmates from this particular cell may have planned to escape soon after the first four. 

Fortunately, the police were alert and noticed that four detainees were missing, and also discovered the escape route, foiling more probable breakouts.

https://www.namibian.com.na/75603/read/Murder-suspects-escape-from-Swakop-holding-cell