A 21-year-old mother, Hileni Vemujendavi Virere, allegedly strangled her five-year-old daughter before hanging herself.
According to the police, the incident took place on Saturday between 16h50 and 17h00 at Otjiwarongo’s Old Ombili location, where Virere lived with her daughter, Winny Virere.
Otjozondjupa police spokesperson inspector Maureen Mbeha confirmed the deaths and further said the mother was found hanging from the roof of her shack, while her daughter’s body was found lying on the floor.
“It is alleged that the mother strangled her daughter and thereafter hanged herself from the roof of her corrugated iron shack. Her daughter was found laying on the floor. Prior to the discovery of the bodies, a friend of the deceased got suspicious that something might be wrong with her friend, after making several calls but she was not picking up nor returning the calls,” said inspector Mbeha.
According to Mbeha, the friend became worried and decided to go to the deceased’s home to check if everything was okay.
“While approaching the deceased’s house, she encountered a terrible smell coming from the shack and she alerted the police about the smell and her suspicions. Officers attended the scene and decided to break the door of the shack. They discovered Virere hanging from the roof inside the shack, while her daughter’s body was lying on the floor,” shared Mbeha.
According to police preliminary investigations, the deceased is suspected to have strangled her daughter and then committed suicide. “No suicide note was found and no foul play is suspected. The bodies were transported to Otjiwarongo state hospital for certification and autopsy. The next of kin of the deceased have been informed of the deaths and police investigations into the matter continue,” Mbeha said.
– ohembapu@nepc.com.na