WINDHOEK – The man who bumped and killed 27-year-old Michael Ellinger more than four years ago was convicted on all counts in the Windhoek Magistrate’s Court yesterday.
Ellinger was killed on February 7 2010 while walking to the house where he was staying in Moses Tjitendero Street. At the time the incident made headlines in local papers. Ellinger who was well known in inline hockey circles was on a visit to Windhoek from Swakopmund.
Riaan de Wet Vermeulen was arrested and made a first appearance in the Windhoek Magistrate’s Court on charges of culpable homicide, alternatively reckless or negligent driving or alternatively inconsiderate driving.
He further faced charges of failure to stop after an accident, failure to ascertain injuries sustained during the accident, failure to render any assistance to the injured person he might have been capable of rendering and failure to report an accident within 24 hours after the occurence.
Magistrate Helvi Shilemba convicted Vermeulen on all charges. Vermeulen’s bail of N$10 000 he was granted at his first court appearance was cancelled and refunded to him and he was remanded in custody pending sentence.
By Roland Routh