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Star rapper Sean Combs has joined a social media marketing campaign calling for the discharge of American citizen Kevan Townsend, who has been in jail in Namibia on homicide and different prices for greater than 10 years.
In feedback made on social media over the previous weekend, the American rapper – often known as Puff Daddy, P Diddy and Diddy – claimed Townsend has been incarcerated in Namibia and “has by no means acquired his proper to a good trial”.
Townsend (35) and a co-accused, fellow American Marcus Thomas (36), are on trial within the Windhoek Excessive Courtroom in reference to the homicide of a Namibian citizen, Andre Heckmair (25), who was shot in an alleged deliberate killing in Windhoek on 7 January 2011.
Diddy stated: “Kevan Townsend was arrested and put in jail for a homicide with out having any witnesses or proof linking him to the crime.”
He additionally claimed: “There isn’t a cause why an individual may be stripped of their freedom for over a decade with out ever seeing a decide. All he needs is a good trial!!!”
Diddy’s feedback, which by yesterday acquired greater than 50 000 ‘likes’ on Instagram, the place Diddy has greater than 18,2 million followers, didn’t go down effectively with some Namibians and native celebrities, nevertheless.
Businesswoman and socialite Maria Nepembe commented: “I am unable to consider you really tried to #blacklivesmatter [an alleged] assassin out of jail.
“Namibians assemble. Report this account for spreading false data.”
Actress Tuna Kauapirura zeroed in on the factual inaccuracy on which Diddy’s feedback are primarily based when she reacted to his submit on Instagram: “One query solely. Did you truth test??! Did you’re taking even simply 5 min to google? You declare to be so proud to have African roots however preserve letting Africa down. Smdh. It is the hypocrisy & ignorance for me.”
In an analogous vein, musician Taylor Jaye suggested Diddy: “Evaluate all information on this case, earlier than making a public assertion in regards to the justice system of Namibia.”
Additionally responding to Diddy’s submit, Dillish Matthews commented: “You continue to have time to delete this Puff … “
Diddy made his remarks in reference to a social media marketing campaign below the theme #Justice4Kevan, which Townsend’s father, Roger Bonds, has began in an effort to get his son launched from jail in Namibia. Diddy described Bonds as a long-time pal.
In a submit on social media this weekend, Bond claimed: “It does not matter in case you are American or Namibian … in a courtroom of legislation one have to be confirmed responsible and that is not the case right here.”
Bond additionally stated: “Learn the case with none prejudice and you can’t convict my son. It’s essential to convey forth proof is it not unhealthy sufficient for over 10 yrs you held my son. The place is the proof. Whereas I really feel for the sufferer and his household. My son is harmless.” (sic)
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Opposite to Diddy’s declare that Townsend has been jailed in Namibia “with out ever seeing a decide”, he and Thomas have made quite a few courtroom appearances earlier than magistrates and Excessive Courtroom decide Christie Liebenberg since their arrest in Windhoek in January 2011.
The 2 males have additionally been receiving a trial, which, nevertheless, has been repeatedly delayed for numerous causes, together with the withdrawal of a number of defence attorneys who represented them for the reason that begin of their trial in November 2014; purposes for the recusal of the decide; and a failed try by Thomas to be discovered mentally unfit to face trial.
The state is alleging that Thomas and Townsend travelled from the USA to Namibia in December 2010 to hold out a plan to kill Heckmair.
The 2 males are denying guilt on all six prices they’re being tried on.
The trial is scheduled to proceed this week.
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