It has been recommended that the woman allegedly responsible for the shocking murder of a four-year-old boy in the Wanaheda police cells be sent for psychiatric evaluation.
The woman, Lovisa Kahimbo appeared in the Windhoek Magistrate’s Court in Katutura yesterday charged with the murder of the toddler known as Junias.
Kahimbo allegedly attacked Junias in a cell last week Thursday after an argument between Kahimbo and the child’s mother, Selma Haindjambe.
Kahimbo allegedly grabbed the boy and slammed his head into the ground several times. He died a few hours later in the Katutura State Hospital.
The head of the Namibian Police Public Relations Division, Deputy Commissioner Edwin Kanguatjivi, yesterday said: “It is unheard of - a woman grabbing a boy by his feet and slamming his head against the floor. It is recommended that the woman should go for psychiatric evaluation.”
Because Kahimbo already had a pending case of assault against her, and now a murder charge too, Kanguatjivi said there was no way that she could be granted bail.
He said the police are very sympathetic with regard to the continued incarceration of Haindjambe.
According to him various recommendations have been made. “Social workers will be deployed and whatever needs to be done, will be done to help.”
Kanguatjivi said if Haindjambe needs to be taken to another detention facility, or she needs to attend the funeral of her child, it could be arranged.
“But the [shoplifting] charges against her will stick.”
An investigation into the circumstances surrounding the little boy’s death is under way.
Kanguatjivi said the police are investigating other possibilities for children that are incarcerated with their mothers, especially when conditions in cells are not fit for them.
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