UUKUVU – The family of a five-year-old boy who allegedly killed a two-year-old girl last week at Uukuvu village in Omusati region says they regret not seeking a mental evaluation for the child, who had previously shown signs of aggressive behaviour.

Police confirmed that Namupa Lisias was stoned to death by the boy, who is their neighbour. The incident occurred around 15h00 while both sets of parents were at the local cuca shops.

The deceased child’s mother, an Angolan national, is a domestic worker at the homestead of neighbours who are related to the boy.

When New Era visited the homestead yesterday, a 10-year-old girl who was left at home with Lisias and the boy said she tried to stop the assault but failed.

“I told my brother to stop beating (Namupa) Lisias, but he pushed me away. He continued until she died,” she recounted.

After realising Lisias had died, the girl ran to the shebeen to inform the parents.

“They thought I was lying. They didn’t want to believe me. They told me to bring Lisias,” she said, adding that she carried the victim’s body to the shebeen, where she met the parents on their way home. “The victim was bleeding from the nose,” she revealed.

The boy’s grandmother, Anguate Amutenya, said he had shown troubling behaviour in the past.

“Earlier this year, he bit Lisias on the hand, causing swelling. He also set fire to huts in our homestead and often stole food when we were cooking,” she said, adding that on the day of the tragedy, the boy was found holding matches, allegedly intending to burn the victim’s body.

She confirmed the family never sought medical help for him.

The victim’s mother, Sarafina Mateus (30), said she often went to the shebeen with her daughter after noticing signs of mistreatment.

“I went with Lisias and bought her bread. But my neighbour later took her to their house, where the boy stays,” she said.

Mateus explained that she returned to the shebeen, only to later learn from the 10-year-old that her daughter had been killed.

“I didn’t believe it at first,” she said, adding that she is now left to care for four other children. Hilia Shilau, who allegedly took Lisias from the shebeen, said her intention was to cook for the children.

“Lisias was hungry. I told her mother we were going home to cook, and she agreed,” she said.

Meanwhile, the boy’s mother, Secilia Ndakondje, admitted she is troubled by her son’s behaviour.

“He likes beating other children. I’ve tried to talk to him, but he doesn’t listen. We’ve never had such behaviour in our family,” she said.

– fhamalwa@nepc.com.na