Orapa Police are investigating a case in which a 15-year-old boy is suspected to have killed an 18-year-old girl at Beetsha cattlepost on the outskirts of Mopipi village last Tuesday.
Police have also expressed chilling suspicions that the young accused may have raped his victim before killing her.
In a brief interview with The Voice, Orapa Station Commander, Kebaitse Molefhe revealed the accused was arrested on the day of the incident.
“We received a report from the deceased’s bosses, who found the girl’s body in the bush near the farm where she worked as a herd girl. Our officers went to the crime scene and took the girl to the hospital where she was certified dead,” said Molefhe, adding that the incident happened at night.
The police chief further disclosed that the suspect allegedly followed the victim and her teenage companion after a drinking spree at a local shebeen.
“The report also states that the accused caught up with them on the way and got hold of the deceased claiming that she had provoked him earlier that day. It was at that point that her companion left,” continued the top cop, noting that the accused killer and the victim knew each other but were not in a romantic relationship.
Although the cause of death was yet to be established, Molefhe said it appears the girl was strangled, as there were no visible physical injuries.
When questioned on the rumours of rape, Molefhe admitted, “There is a suspicion that she might have been raped but investigations are continuing as the scientific evidence is not yet out.”
The suspect, who cannot be named due to his age, appeared before Letlhkane Magistrate Court in a closed session on Wednesday 12 August.
He was remanded in custody and will remain at a juvenile centre until his next court appearance, set for 27 August.
