KEETMANSHOOP – Police in the Hardap Region have arrested a 30-year-old suspect in connection with the murder of the 70-year old Attie du Plessis on the farm Ou- Karanas outside Rehoboth, as well as arson and violating a corpse.
Station Commander of the Rehoboth Police Chief Inspector Max Joodt yesterday confirmed the arrest after the deceased was found burnt beyond recognition in the ruins of his farmhouse.
According to police information the suspect fled the area on Monday and was arrested at his sister’s flat in Windhoek yesterday morning.
The suspect was found in possession of a revolver of the deceased and about $2 000 which is suspected to be the money stolen from the deceased.
“We are still waiting for the autopsy report but we do not think the deceased was shot with his revolver,” Joodt theorised.
The suspect’s family have farmed at Karanas and also played a significant role in the community over the years.
“We followed up on information that we had about the movements of people on the farm. Some people of the community alerted the police that they has seen him (the suspect) in the area. And shortly after that we got a tip-off from someone on the farm informing us that the suspect fled to Windhoek,” Joodt said.
It is believed the deceased whose house and car were set on fire was murdered a few days before he was discovered on Monday. The deceased lived like a hermit for years since the passing of his wife in the late 80’s.
According to Warrant-Officer Boytjie Eiman of the Rehoboth police the police responded to a call from a neighbouring farmer who alerted the police about a fire on the farm at around 19:00 on Monday evening.
“Someone called the station commander and said a house was burning and they suspected someone was in there and that they were scared to enter but were busy extinguishing the fire,” said Eiman.
Meanwhile, according to a source at the farm the deceased was last seen when he went into town to withdraw money for his daughter’s upcoming wedding.
Meanwhile, Karanas residents are failing to comprehend how a young man who grew up in the community could kill an elder member of the same community.
“You know we cannot understand how he could do that to uncle Attie. What did he have against him? What could uncle Attie possibly have done to him? You know the murder is terrible but to know that it is someone who is part of the community is something else,” said a distraught resident.
The suspect is expected to appear in the Rehoboth Magistrate’s Court tomorrow morning.
By Jemima Beukes