B1 Butcher ‘a coward’

THE Police are now “99 per cent” certain that the female torso and two human thighs discovered in rubbish bins next to the B1 road to the north and south of Windhoek two weeks ago are parts of the same person, the Inspector General of the Namibian Police, Lieutenant General Sebastian Ndeitunga, said yesterday.

Speaking at a media briefing at the Police’s national headquarters in the city, Ndeitunga said while scientific investigations to match the body parts found at lay-bys next to the B1 road continue, the Police could now say with “99 per cent” certainty that the two human upper legs and the female torso had been part of the same person. He added that the Police were also “very close” to establishing the identity of the person whose dismembered remains were discarded in rubbish bins some 42 kilometres north of Windhoek and some 65 km south of the city respectively.The search for the person, or people, suspected of killing and dismembering the still unknown woman continues without anyone having been arrested.”We are desperate to find this suspect,” Ndeitunga said.He expressed confidence that the Police will “one good day” arrest the person suspected of being responsible for killing the woman whose body parts have been discarded along the B1 road.In the meantime, he added, “this coward, this murderer” should emerge from his hiding place and reveal where he or she has hidden the parts of the woman’s body that are still missing – her lower legs and feet, arms and hands, and her head.Ndeitunga said a request by the Police for public assistance with information that could lead to the arrest of the presumed killer has been met with high public interest, with numerous phone calls giving possible leads received by Police investigators working on the matter.The investigation however is time-consuming, as tips that the public are forwarding to investigators have to be followed up, and in some instances information submitted to the Police has turned out not to be correct, Ndeitunga said.RUMOURS RUBBISHED He also addressed the spreading of untrue rumours about the supposed arrest of a suspect in the case over the weekend.The person who was the subject of those rumours, which were also aired by some private radio stations, Ndeitunga said, “is not a suspect in the murder of the unknown victim as alleged”.Ndeitunga appealed to people who have information that could help with the investigation to contact the Police.”Because this monster is living among us, (whether) being on the farm, settlement, a church member, a restaurant frequenter, a doctor, a street vendor, you mention it.Therefore, until a person who possesses that vital information comes out of the shell and discloses it to the Police, the monster will continue to attack at his own accord and stir fear and panic,” the Inspector General said.”I should admit that prompt completion of this case is everybody’s wish,” Ndeitunga stated.”However, thorough and careful handling of information is the prerequisite if we are to arrest the culprit.Hence, allow experts to discern what is at hand and avoid undue interference with unwanted comments or publications.”On Sunday, the Police’s Public Relations and Liaison Division asked anyone with information on the whereabouts of a Kalkrand resident who had last been seen in front of a Windhoek restaurant about three and a half days before the discovery of the torso to contact the phone number set aside for the forwarding of information that could help with the investigation of the discovery of the body parts.Yesterday the Police issued a correction, stating that the missing woman’s name was Sanna Helena Garoës, and not Garises as initially stated.She was last seen in front of Zum Wirt Restaurant in Windhoek’s Independence Avenue at about 23h00 on June 13.The unknown woman’s torso was found early in the afternoon of June 17.The Police have asked anyone with information on where Garoës might be, or with information that could help the Police with the investigation of the discovery of the body parts, to phone (061) 209 4414 between 08h00 and 17h00, or the cell phone number 081 127 5510.He added that the Police were also “very close” to establishing the identity of the person whose dismembered remains were discarded in rubbish bins some 42 kilometres north of Windhoek and some 65 km south of the city respectively.The search for the person, or people, suspected of killing and dismembering the still unknown woman continues without anyone having been arrested.”We are desperate to find this suspect,” Ndeitunga said.He expressed confidence that the Police will “one good day” arrest the person suspected of being responsible for killing the woman whose body parts have been discarded along the B1 road.In the meantime, he added, “this coward, this murderer” should emerge from his hiding place and reveal where he or she has hidden the parts of the woman’s body that are still missing – her lower legs and feet, arms and hands, and her head.Ndeitunga said a request by the Police for public assistance with information that could lead to the arrest of the presumed killer has been met with high public interest, with numerous phone calls giving possible leads received by Police investigators working on the matter.The investigation however is time-consuming, as tips that the public are forwarding to investigators have to be followed up, and in some instances information submitted to the Police has turned out not to be correct, Ndeitunga said.RUMOURS RUBBISHED He also addressed the spreading of untrue rumours about the supposed arrest of a suspect in the case over the weekend.The person who was the subject of those rumours, which were also aired by some private radio stations, Ndeitunga said, “is not a suspect in the murder of the unknown victim as alleged”.Ndeitunga appealed to people who have information that could help with the investigation to contact the Police.”Because this monster is living among us, (whether) being on the farm, settlement, a church member, a restaurant frequenter, a doctor, a street vendor, you mention it.Therefore, until a person who possesses that vital information comes out of the shell and discloses it to the Police, the monster will continue to attack at his own accord and stir fear and panic,” the Inspector General said.”I should admit that prompt completion of this case is everybody’s wish,” Ndeitunga stated.”However, thorough and careful handling of information is the prerequisite if we are to arrest the culprit.Hence, allow experts to discern what is at hand and avoid undue interference with unwanted comments or publications.”On Sunday, the Police’s Public Relations and Liaison Division asked anyone with information on the whereabouts of a Kalkrand resident who had last been seen in front of a Windhoek restaurant about three and a half days before the discovery of the torso to contact the phone number set aside for the forwarding of information that could help with the investigation of the discovery of the body parts.Yesterday the Police issued a correction, stating that the missing woman’s name was Sanna Helena Garoës, and not Garises as initially stated.She was last seen in front of Zum Wirt Restaurant in Windhoek’s Independence Avenue at about 23h00 on June 13.The unknown woman’s torso was found early in the afternoon of June 17.The Police have asked anyone with information on where Garoës might be, or with information that could help the Police with the investigation of the discovery of the body parts, to phone (061) 209 4414 between 08h00 and 17h00, or the cell phone number 081 127 5510.