Women’s Day murder shocks Windhoek

RUTH KAMWI and BRANDON VAN WYKIT IS ironic that the man who shot his girlfriend in Dorado Park, Windhoek, on Monday before committing suicide, had decided to do this on International Women’s Day – a day meant to honour women.

Keib Diedrich (48) allegedly shot Monalisa Xoagus (27) before turning the gun on himself in the house they shared in the quiet neighbourhood.

Xoagus’ family yesterday said she did not tell any family member whether she had relationship problems.

Relatives told yesterday that the two had been dating for about five years.

The Namibian also understands that the two were partners in a shuttle business called Diedrich Airport Transfer and Tour company.

At the time of the tragedy, the police said, Xoagus wanted to end the relationship, a development which angered Diedrich, and possibly led to the fatal shooting.

Xoagus’ brother, who was in the garage at the house when the shooting took place, was still in shock yesterday when The Namibian visited the house.

Apart from the two dogs that lay outside, there was no one else at the house when the news crew arrived. A boy from the neighbourhood came to give the dogs water. He innocently went in through a half-open gate, and the dogs followed him.

The boy said he was friends with Xoagus’ nephew, and that he visited the house frequently.

A while later, the family arrived from the police station, and invited into the house.

The uncle, Usiel Xoagub, led the crew into the bedroom where the shooting occurred.

Caked blood was still on the floor. There were flies buzzing around. A pair of slippers was on the edge of the caked blood.

Xoagub said the woman’s younger brother heard the gunshots in the main house and fled to the neighbours’ house, from where he told some family members what had happened.

Although the pair had been staying together for five years, the uncle said he never saw them together. He also said that his niece never hinted that there were any problems in their relationship when he spoke to her two weeks ago.

“There was no mentioning of anything that was bothering her,” he said, adding that her niece was a reserved person.

He added that the family would not have known of any internal disputes.

Annalise Xoagus, the deceased woman’s mother, said she accepted what had happened, and that she could not bring her daughter back to life.

Michael Jonathan, a neighbour who runs a business in the same street, condemned the killing of women.

Jonathan, who lives with his girlfriend, said the incident had left her feeling uncomfortable and questioning gun ownership.

“There is no social remedy for this stuff,” a disappointed Jonathan stated.

Another neighbour, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said she and her husband were home on Monday night when they heard the gunshots, and were alerted by dogs’ barking.

According to her, they did not hear any fighting or arguing before the fatal shooting.

She added that she has been scared ever since the incident happened.

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