A 26-year-old woman, who was arrested on Monday for allegedly killing her newborn, slitting her stomach and removing the bowels, is scheduled to make her first court appearance today in Katutura Magistrate’s Court.
According to Namibian police spokesperson Kauna Shikwambi, the suspect has been arraigned with a count of murder and defeating or attempting to defeat the course of justice.
The suspect, who was employed as a domestic worker at a residence in Windhoek’s Rocky Crest, is said to have given birth to a baby girl in the bathtub between Saturday and Sunday.
It is alleged she wrapped the baby in plastic bags and hid the body in the closet of her sleeping room.
“After some time, she allegedly went and removed the plastic, cut the body open, removed the intestines, threw the (intestines) in the dustbin and placed the body back in the closet,” explained Shikwambi.
On Monday, the owner of the house investigated where an unpleasant smell was coming from.
Upon searching the suspect’s room, she discovered a plastic containing a body of a baby girl with an open stomach.
The body was in a decomposed state.
Police officials who responded to the call later discovered the infant’s intestines in the bin.
In an unrelated incident, a case of murder and defeating or attempting to defeat the course of justice has been opened at Dordabis.
The case is in relation to the body of a 23-year-old woman, who was discovered by a passerby on Monday evening. The body was found on the mountain next to the riverside.
Preliminary police investigations indicate that the victim was sexually violated and her private parts are removed.
“It is alleged that the deceased, a mother of a 10-month-old, was last seen at a wedding celebration at Stinkwater on Saturday 10 December 2021 between 22h00 and 23h00. The next of kin are informed, and the investigations are ongoing,” said Shikwambi.
The victim has been identified as Lydia Garises.
The police are requesting anyone with information that would lead to the arrest of the suspect/s in the matter.