Eba Kandovazu
THE father of Kevan Townsend, one of the two American men awaiting trial at the Windhoek correctional facility for murder, has taken to social media to demand that the trial, currently before the Windhoek high court, be broadcasted for the world to see.
Roger Bonds, who goes by the Instagram handle therealrogerbonds, a Ciroc Global Ambassador with a somewhat large following on social media, took to his Instagram account to appeal to the US Embassy in Namibia to have authorities and the international media broadcasting the trial of Townsend and his co-accused, Marcus Thomas. The duo’s trial resumes in September this year. They reportedly shot 24-year-old Andre Heckmaire at a quiet street in Klein Windhoek in 2011.
The state is alleging that the duo, suspected contract killers, flew in from the United States with illegal ammunition to carry out the execution. Before traveling to Namibia for the first time, Thomas allegedly posted bail in an amount of U$10 000 to secure Townsend’s release from a US jail, where he was in police custody at that stage.
Their trial has been marred with delays for a number of reasons ranging from the withdrawal of state lawyers, requests for the judge in the case, Christie Liebenberg, to recuse himself, requests for psychiatric evaluations, and other legal applications.
Bonds, who is affiliated to rapper Sean ‘P Diddy’ Combs through the multimillion dollar premium vodka brand, on his social media accounts is calling on other celebrities to help him “get justice for Kevin”, claiming that he has been denied bail, is in solitary confinement and has been in jail for 9 years with no trial.
The trial of Townsend and Thomas has, however, kicked off, with the last state witness testifying that he had helped them buy a gun which unbeknownst to him was used in the killing of Heckmaire.
“I want my son to have the best chance at justice and maybe if the world watches this trial they will have no choice but to be fair. Is my son not afforded help because he is in Africa? He is an American citizen. They are gonna rail road my son and I as a father and a man am not there to show my son support and my love as well as help prove your innocence (sic). #justiceforKevan”, Bonds’ Instagram reads.
He has since requested from his followers that the campaign to get Townsend out go viral, sparking musicians like Willie Taylor to equally join the campaign.
“I am calling out to everyone to demand that Namibia allows cameras in this young man’s case. Is he guilty? No, but you would think so as much time he has done already. I’ve listened and watched his father call for justice unanswered. Now I am using my celebrity status to call out every US citizen and celebrity to help,” Taylor wrote on Instagram in a now deleted post.
