Maria David
THE police in the Ohangwena Region have arrested a 30-year-old man accused of hacking to death his 94-year-old uncle and seriously injuring his 17-year-old cousin at Onekwaya West on Monday.
Ohangwena Community Policing Sub-division Warrant Officer Andrew Nghiyolwa said the incident occurred around 10:00. The suspect has been charged with murder, read with the provisions of the Domestic Violence Act 4 of 2003, attempted murder read with the same provisions, and malicious damage to state property.
According to Nghiyolwa, the suspect is also alleged to have subsequently vandalized a local state clinic.
Nghiyolwa indicated that the motive behind the alleged attacks stems from the suspect’s belief that his uncle and cousin had poisoned him with pork meat the previous day.
“It is alleged that the suspect initially attacked his cousin, shooting him in the back of the head with an arrow, causing a serious deep wound. The victim then managed to flee into the mahangu field along with his uncle. However, the suspect reportedly pursued them, caught up with the deceased, and brutally assaulted him with a panga, inflicting multiple fatal head and facial injuries,” he said.
He added that the deceased died at the scene, while the surviving victim sought refuge and medical attention at the Onekwaya State Clinic.
Nghiyolwa added that the suspect allegedly followed him to the clinic. Upon realizing the suspect’s presence, clinic staff reportedly locked the doors. However, the suspect is accused of damaging all four window glasses of the clinic before eventually leaving and returning home.
The deceased has been identified as Josua Kirus, while the injured survivor is Kirus Nghishonwa, the suspect’s 17-year-old cousin, who also lived at the deceased’s homestead.
He is currently receiving treatment at Oshakati State Hospital for a serious head injury.