Alleged lover shoots married woman to death

Pini Bothoko | Thursday October 22, 2020 15:45

 

Alleged lover shoots married woman to death

Even though the police declined to comment further on the duo’s relationship, it is alleged that the deceased, a married woman and the suspect were lovers. Molepolole police station commander, Superintendent Motlhaba Ramaabya confirmed that his office is investigating the incident in an interview with Mmegi. 

“We have arrested a 31 year old man of Ntloolengwae ward in relation to the murder. The suspect is in police custody helping the police with investigations and is likely to appear before Molepolole Magistrate’s Court soon facing a single count of murder. Gun shots were heard hence suspecting the deceased was shot dead,” he said. 

Ramaabya stated that the deceased was rushed to Scottish Livingstone Hospital where she was confirmed dead by doctors on arrival. Furthermore, the police boss added that even though he did not have statistics, murder incidents remain a concern in his policing area. 

Concerned by alarming cases of GBV in Kweneng area, the Botswana Police Service (BPS) hosted men’s conference dubbed ‘Pitso ya Borre’ on Valentine’s Day early this year at Molepolole to sensetize men on Gender Based Violence (GBV) issues. Asked if the campaign was bearing fruits, Ramaabya said murder and GBV cases remains a concern something that worries the police.

“GBV cases are prevalent in my policing area but they have slightly dropped since the beginning of this year. The fight against COVID-19 and lockdowns might have contributed to reduction in murder cases. We received this murder report whilst we were still doing investigations on an attempted murder case that occurred at Hatsalatladi village recently,” he said. 

However, Ramaabya was hopeful that the numbers would decrease with time stating that they cannot expect results as soon as possible because issues of behavioral change take time to occur. 

“There is still a lot to be done to sensetize the public on GBV issues. We have been holding public forums to educate the public on GBV in our policing area and we will not despair until people change their behavior. We want men who are usually the perpetrators to change how they deal with GBV issues and learn to handle stress,” he said. 

The Commissioner decried the increase of crimes in the district especially cases of murder, threat to kill, rape, attempted rape and defilement between 2015 and 2019, with some general increase in 2019 as compared to 2018.

Then, officiating a Pitso ya Borre campaign, the Commissioner of Police, Keabetswe Makgophe decried the increase of crimes in the district especially cases of murder, threat to kill, rape, attempted rape and defilement between 2015 and 2019, with some general increase in 2019 as compared to 2018. 

He stated that statistics revealed, an increase of murder cases from 278 in 2015 to 320 while rape and attempted rape also escalated from 2163 from to 2265 between 2015 and 2019.

“We are highly concerned about the increasing level of violence and ruthlessness demonstrated in the commissioning of certain crimes such as murder, threat to kill, rape, defilement and some serious assault, predominantly committed by men against women,” said the police commissioner then.