OKATANA – The mother of a 36-year-old man accused of killing his girlfriend in Epanya village, Okatana constituency of Oshana, has revealed years of abuse at the hands of her son.

Martha Ndjendja said she had asked him to leave her house in June due to repeated verbal assaults.

The suspect was arrested following the brutal killing of 31-year-old Ndilimeke Heelu, who suffered deep wounds believed to have been inflicted with a panga found near her body. 

The couple lived together with their three-year-old son, who reportedly witnessed the attack. Deputy Commissioner Fredrick Ndjadila confirmed the devastating incident, which occurred around 15h30. 

After committing the crime, the suspect allegedly transported the child in a borrowed wheelbarrow to his mother’s homestead, about 600 metres away, reportedly saying only: “Here is your wheelbarrow.”

The deceased’s mother said she was alarmed to see blood spattered on the child and rushed to the shack, where she found the door wide open and Heelu’s body lying in a pool of blood.

She added that she does not know the deceased’s relatives but had heard rumours that a family member may be on the way to help identify her.

The suspect’s mother also recounted a previous attack by another son, who was jailed after chopping off one of her fingers and inflicting severe head injuries with a panga. 

In another incident, one of her grandchildren was attacked and left with permanent brain damage. She said she is now seeking counselling to cope with the ongoing trauma her family has endured.

-vkaapanda@nepc.com.na