While the family of a German tourist who went missing in Cape Town two weeks ago remain optimistic, hope that Nick Frischke, 22, will be found alive is fading fast after three of the five men arrested for being in possession of items belonging to him confessed to robbing and stabbing him.
Also read: ID belonging to missing German tourist found in Hout Bay arrest
On Monday, three of the suspects appeared in the Wynberg Magistrates’ Court, where their case was rolled over to yesterday following their arrest over the weekend.
It is believed that the three admitted to robbing Frischke after the Hout Bay Community Police Forum (CPF) reported that Frischke’s backpack and cellphone were recovered, as well as a kitchen knife.
Two additional suspects joined the trio and briefly appeared on Tuesday before Magistrate Goolam Bowa, who postponed the case to Monday for further investigation.
The group faces charges of robbery with aggravating circumstances and were found in possession of items belonging to Frischke.
According to a report by a German broadcaster, RTL News, one of the three accused confessed to being involved in an attack in Karbonkelberg, adding that one of their accomplices had stabbed him.
A kitchen knife is being examined for DNA evidence, the broadcaster reported.
Frischke’s father, Andre Hallwas, took to social media to express his frustration over the lack of communication from the local authorities, stating that “communication has gotten worse these past few days.”
“I think it’s terrible that you get important messages from the newspaper or here on Facebook. It would certainly be helpful for us parents to talk to us beforehand,” he said. “We still hope that it will end well,” he said.
He also confirmed that currently there are no plans for the family to come to Cape Town.
The NSRI, a Western Cape Government Health EMS rescue squad drone team, an Emergency Medical Services (EMS) rescue squad trail search and rescue team, a Police K9 search and rescue team, WSAR (Wilderness Search and Rescue) members and WSAR K9 search and rescue also conducted searches in the Hout Bay area.
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Picture: Tom Frischke / Facebook