Mulisa Simyasa 

OTJIWARONGO  –  A suspect in the murder of a woman at Otjiwarongo on Monday was arrested in the Windhoek district.

The Namibian Police’s  crime investigations coordinator in the Otjozondjupa region, Detective Deputy Commissioner Edna Nawa, on Tuesday confirmed the arrest, saying the 18-year-old suspect was known to the deceased.

The deceased, who has been identified as 57-year-old Petronella Sabatha, was previously employed at Karundu Primary School.
She was attacked with an axe and knife in her house in the Etambi location by the suspect.

“We discovered two deep cuts in her head and several stab wounds on her face. A blood-stained axe and a knife were found on the scene. The suspect fled,” Nawa said.
Sabatha’s body was discovered around 14h00 on Monday by children who had returned home from school, Nawa said.

The suspect was apprehended on Monday night. Due to the injuries, he sustained during the incident, he was first treated at a hospital in Windhoek under police guard before being transported back to Otjiwarongo. He is scheduled to make his first court appearance this week.

In a separate murder at Grootfontein, Nawa said an adult man, age unknown, was allegedly stabbed to death at his house around 22h00 on Monday.
“The deceased and the suspect were earlier on Monday night seen together at a bar in Grootfontein,” said the police officer.

It is alleged that later the same night, the 42-year-old suspect followed the deceased to his house in Kap en Bou informal settlement, where he stabbed him in the chest with a knife.
The suspect, who is known to the police, fled the scene and was yet to be arrested.

The relatives of the deceased were also yet to be informed of his death.
Police investigations in both cases continue.
-Nampa