Kaviveterue Virere 

The community of Rehoboth’s Block E settlement awoke to shocking news of a murder-suicide on Sunday after Sofia Nero (50) was allegedly murdered by her ex-boyfriend, Christiaan Kooitjie (42). 

The tragedy did not end there, as Kooitjie’s body was later discovered. 

He is suspected of having died by suicide. 

According to a statement released by Namibian Police spokesperson Kauna Shikwambi, the incident started at around 4h00 on Sunday, when Kooitjie allegedly followed Nero to another man’s house. 

According to police reports, the suspect showed up at the residence and insisted on having the door unlocked. Kooitjie allegedly used force to smash open the door with a makeshift weight bar after the tenant refused. Kooitjie, who was allegedly carrying an open knife, assaulted the man inside the house as he hurried towards the door after noticing it was being brutally broken. The man shoved the suspect away in a desperate attempt to get assistance and ran from the area. 

When he returned with the police, officers made a harrowing discovery. Nero was found lying inside the house with three stab wounds to the left side of her neck. Authorities confirmed that she died instantly from the injuries. 

The report states that Kooitjie fled the crime scene before police arrived. 

Officers immediately launched a pursuit, heading to his residence in Block E. However, the chase ended in further tragedy. Upon arrival, police found the suspect hanging in his bedroom, with what appeared to be shoelace threads wrapped around his neck. 

-Fazzyvirere2@gmail.com