The victim, identified only as Cecilia, aged between 15 and 20, was found by her 12-year-old brother. Southern Province Police Commissioner Moono Nang’omba stated that Cecilia had been at her mother’s home for the school holidays.
According to police reports, the victim’s mother left for work around 07:30 hours, leaving Cecilia and her younger brother at home. The boy later went to church, leaving his sister alone. Upon returning around 12:30 hours, he found the house door locked with the key on the ground. After unlocking the door, he discovered his sister lying naked and lifeless on the sitting room floor.
A police officer residing in the same compound was alerted and contacted authorities. Commissioner Nang’omba confirmed that officers rushed to the scene and found the body with blood stains on the floor. A pounding stick with blood stains was recovered near the door, and a pair of ladies’ underwear, suspected to belong to the deceased, was found a few metres from the body.
“Physical inspection revealed a deep cut at the back of the head, bleeding from the nose, and fluid suspected to be semen on the genitalia. Samples were collected for forensic examination,” Commissioner Nang’omba said.
Police have identified a man known only as Kelvin from the same neighbourhood as the main suspect. He was reportedly seen near the crime scene earlier wearing a blue worksuit.
Further investigations revealed that Kelvin was later admitted to Choma General Hospital after ingesting unknown chemicals in an apparent suicide attempt. Police confirmed his admission and that he was wearing the described worksuit.
“Physical inspection revealed stains of suspected semen on his trousers. He is currently unable to talk and his condition is critical,” Commissioner Nang’omba added.
The suspect is under police guard at the hospital, and his trousers have been seized for forensic analysis. The body of the deceased has been deposited at Choma General Hospital Mortuary awaiting a postmortem examination as investigations continue.
