MARIENTAL – The 33-year-old Frieda Swartbooi lost her life at the hands of her lover, 21-year old Isaack Engelbrecht, who slit her throat with a knife barely six days after paying a court fine for assaulting her. Engelbrecht then tried to commit suicide by slitting his own throat immediately after killing Swartbooi.
He committed the crime last week Thursday, six days after the court ordered him to either spend five months in prison or pay a fine of N$800 for assaulting Swartbooi. Engelbrecht paid the fine and was released.
Yesterday the police said he was in a stable condition in the Mariental State Hospital where he was admitted in a critical condition after slittig his own throat. When New Era visited the hospital over the weekend, the young Engelbrecht was under police guard and unable to speak.
Deputy Commissioner of the Hardap Police Josua Ndemoongela Kuduva confirmed the incident.
“He appeared in court on the 23rd or the 24th of October 2013 and was sentenced to five months in prison or a N$ 800 fine. He paid and was released. We understand that he apparently went to the deceased’s house and started arguing and was chased away, but he returned later and killed her,” Kuduva said.
He added that domestic violence is a serious concern in the region especially during the end of the month when most men have access to money and alcohol which leads to quarrels at home.
By Jemima Beukes