Samuel Shinedima<\/p>\n
UTE Sinkala, the psychologist who evaluated Ernst Lichtenstrasser’s mental and psychological well-being, said that the confession made by the accused in the NIMT double murder case is unreliable.<\/p>\n
Lichtenstrasser is currently on trial for the murder of two senior executives at NIMT in Arandis in 2019.<\/p>\n
The confession in question arose from police interrogations, during which Lichtenstrasser allegedly said, “I took out the gun and went into training mode. When Mueller asked me in German, ‘What are you doing here?’ it became automatic. Get lost,” among other statements.<\/p>\n
According to Sinkala, who testified under the examination led by defense lawyer Albert Titus, an investigation was conducted to assess how the confession was obtained and to consider any circumstances that might have influenced its credibility. They examined factors such as the manner of the interrogation, Lichtenstrasser’s health-related issues at the time of the confession, and any potential pressure he may have experienced.<\/p>\n
“Lichtenstrasser was referred to my practice by his doctor, and I conducted several clinical interviews with him over a period of approximately 12 hours. I reviewed reports from his doctor, his family history, his behavioural tendencies and reactions to stress, his personality, and mental health to understand his psychological background,” she testified.<\/p>\n
Based on the files she reviewed, Sinkala noted that Lichtenstrasser was in constant pain, fatigued, had a urinary tract infection, was shouted at while handcuffed, and was threatened with the imprisonment of his wife.<\/p>\n
Considering a wide range of factors, including Lichtenstrasser’s childhood and adult lifestyle, which indicated previous suicide attempts, as well as the stress, hunger strike, urinary tract infection, pain, and fatigue he experienced, the accused was likely to answer anything during the interrogation that seemed plausible in order to escape the situation.<\/p>\n
Sinkala presented her report on Lichtenstrasser’s mental health and other findings, diagnosing him with severe disorders, depression, and anxiety, all of which she believes could have affected the credibility of his confession.<\/p>\n
Titus, the defense lawyer, argued that the police did not consider Lichtenstrasser’s well-being and mental health, pointing out instances where the accused exhibited signs of serious mental illness, such as requesting the police to shoot and kill him.<\/p>\n
The clinical psychologist explained that individuals with suicidal ideation often perceive death as a last resort when facing difficulties. If they lack access to weapons or means to harm themselves, they may seek alternative solutions, such as stepping in front of a moving vehicle.<\/p>\n
“My conclusion is that Lichtenstrasser was not in a sober and sound state of mind and was acting under duress when he confessed. When he asked to be killed, he meant it, and if he had a gun himself, he would have done so easily. The police may not have taken it seriously, but it is a serious issue,” she added.<\/p>\n
Sinkala is a certified clinical psychologist with a private practice in Windhoek. She holds a Master’s degree in Clinical Psychology and specializes in trauma and its effects on the brain. She is currently a lecturer at the Namibian University of Science and Technology and has previous experience working in forensic psychology, dealing with offenders and psychological issues.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Samuel Shinedima UTE Sinkala, the psychologist who evaluated Ernst Lichtenstrasser’s mental and psychological well-being, said that the confession made by the accused in the NIMT double murder case is unreliable. Lichtenstrasser is currently on trial for the murder of two senior executives at NIMT in Arandis in 2019. The confession in question arose from police …<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":10,"featured_media":341055,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[33,24],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-341052","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-breaking-news","category-news"],"yoast_head":"\n