A murder-suicide incident involving a mother and her five-year-old daughter at Otjiwarongo on Saturday, sent shockwaves at the town’s Ombili informal settlement.

Namibian Police Force (NamPol) head of community affairs in the Otjozondjupa Region, Inspector Maureen Mbeha on Sunday said the deceased persons were identified by their close relatives on Saturday as Hileni Vemujendavi Virere, 21, and her daughter Winny Virere.

“It is alleged the deceased mother might have first strangled her daughter to death, and thereafter took a white electrical cable to hang herself around her neck from the corrugated iron roof of her sleeping room,” said Mbeha.

The incident is suspected to have taken place between 16h50 and 17h00 on Saturday at the old Ombili informal area, she said.

Her daughter was found first laying on the floor with injuries on the face, and also bleeding from the nose, while her body was hanging from the roof inside her house, added the police officer.

Mbeha further said the motive behind the incident is still unknown as there was no suicide note left behind.

No foul play is suspected in the matter and police investigations into the matter continue.

Source: The Namibian Press Agency