The Maun community is reeling in shock and grief following three reported passions killings over just one weekend.
Maun police station commander Superintendent Dennis Zilawe revealed in a recent interview that they received reports of a string of three alleged passion killings that occurred between Friday last week and Monday this week. The incidents, which have shocked the local community, involved people who knew each other and resulted in the tragic deaths of three women.
The first case took place in Sedie ward around 10pm on Friday, involving a 24-year-old man and a 17-year-old young lady. Zilawe reported that the man allegedly went to the teenager’s residence, where he allegedly stabbed her with a sharp object, suspected to be a knife.
It is said that when police arrived at the scene, they found the young woman unconscious, with stab wounds and lying in a pool of blood. She was then taken to Letsholathebe II Memorial Hospital, where she was pronounced dead.
Authorities later tracked the man to his home, where he was found hanging from the rafters, and a blood-stained knife was discovered nearby, which the Superintendent revealed that they suspect was the weapon used in the attack.
Although the exact nature of the relationship between the two was unclear, Zilawe revealed that a summons was found in the man’s possession which indicated that the woman had been called to a local Kgotla to return his phone, suggesting they knew each other.
In the second incident, Zilawe revealed that the police were called to a commotion at 9 pm on Saturday, where a couple was reportedly fighting. Upon arrival, they allegedly found a woman with multiple stab wounds.
She was rushed to Letsholathebe II Memorial Hospital but was declared dead on arrival. A search for the suspect, a 33-year-old man, ensued throughout the night. He was found in the early morning in a bushy area of Disaneng, hanging from a tree but still alive. Police quickly brought him down and transported him to the hospital, where he was treated and released into custody to await arraignment on Thursday (yesterday).
The third tragedy occurred on Monday when Maun Police were alerted to a scene where they discovered a 33-year-old woman lying unconscious by the roadside, suffering from severe head wounds. She was taken to the hospital, where she was later pronounced dead.
Shortly after, police received a report leading them to another man, who was allegedly found hanging in his home.
Zilawe revealed that their further investigations led to them discovering that the two deceased were partners that were cohabiting. However, the crime itself had no witness.
Zilawe has cautioned the public against resorting to violence in resolving personal disputes. He urged couples and individuals to seek help from others, such as family members or elders, when conflicts arise, rather than turning to deadly force. “Escalating arguments into violent acts is never the answer,” Zilawe stressed, calling on society to unite against violence and ensure it does not become normalized.
