Murder trend leads to stop and search
Koketso Kgoboge | Thursday April 25, 2019 09:27
Senior Superitendent Agreement Mapeu says they came up with the intervention following incidents in which three people died after they were allegedly stabbed with a sharp instrument believed to be an Okapi knife.
He disclosed that the Okapi seems to a handy and preferred weapon for assailants as the commit most crimes in the area using the weapon. The crimes range from murder, rape and armed robbery.
In Serowe police are investigating a case in which a 25-year old man of Motshegaletau allegedly murdered a 50-year-old man. The assailant later raped the victim’s 49-year-old girlfriend.
According to the police, the two men were involved in a love triangle. The suspect learnt at a drinking depot that his girlfriend left with the deceased and a friend.
He followed them to the deceased’s house where he found the trio sleeping in a room. A fight for the woman ensued.
The suspect is reported to have knocked the friend of the deceased unconscious with a brick on the head. He then stabbed the deceased multiple times on the ribs with a sharp instrument and left both men lying unconscious.
He allegedly dragged the woman to his house where he raped her. The woman escaped from the suspect while he was sleeping and reported the matter to the police.
The deceased was certified dead upon arrival at Sekgoma Memorial Hospital. His corpse is awaiting a postmortem. Meanwhile the friend was treated and released on the same night at Motshegaletau Clinic.
The woman was also treated at Sekgoma Hospital and released. The suspect was found at his house, where was arrested and later detained by the police.
In another murder incident, a 35-year-old woman of Botalaote ward in Serowe succumbed to stabbing wounds at Princess Marina Referral Hospital.
The woman was referred to Princess Marina after her one year older boyfriend allegedly stabbed her in the shoulders with an object. He was later found hanging from the rafters of his room.
In yet another incident, on Easter Day a 19-old-man was found lying dead in a pool of blood at a Chibuku Depot at Sebabi Ward in Serowe. Two suspects have been detained in connection with the murder.
Superintendent Mapeu has said the use of stabbing weapons was prevalent in his jurisdiction. He observed such objects are used in violent crimes like murder, rape, armed robberies, assault and domestic violence.
“Every week we register a crime where victims are threatened or stabbed with offensive weapons. We have noticed that in many instances Okapi (knife) has been the instrument of choice,” he said.