Windhoek
A woman narrowly escaped death after her boyfriend poured an entire 25-litre container of petrol all over her body. Fortunately the matchbox he wanted to use to set her on fire was empty.
It is alleged that the couple’s relationship of four months went sour after the man, Malakia Tilanus (age unknown), started seeing another woman in the same location without calling off the existing affair.
On Monday evening his 29-year-old girlfriend, Petrina Shokohi, apparently went to visit him at his shack in Hakahana location in Katutura, where upon her arrival he started harassing and assaulting her.
“She decided to go back to her shack in the same location. He followed her to her place, equipped with a container of petrol. He then poured the petrol all over her body.
“As fate would have it, the matchbox he brought along was empty and the woman managed to flee from the shack,” said a neighbour, who declined to be identified.
After fleeing, Shokohi went to the police to report the case and subsequently Tilanus was arrested at his shack in the early morning hours.
The incident occurred on Tuesday around 01h00. Neighbours of the woman concerned said Tilanus often abused and embarrassed her in front of people, by beating her up and then taking her back to his shack.
The Namibian Police head of public relations, Deputy Commissioner Edwin Kanguatjivi, confirmed the incident.
Tilanus, who has been charged with attempted murder, appeared in the Katutura Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday and was denied bail.