Oshakati — The body count in a passion killing spree, that happened this week in Oshakati, has risen with the discovery of the body of Basilia Shikesho (22) only a stone's throw from her grandmother's homestead at Okaukamasheshe.

The death toll could have risen to three were not for the lucky escape of a third woman. The killer is alleged to be the same 32-year-old male suspect, one Rudolf Martin, who killed Frieda Shikongo in Oshakati on the night of July 23, by slashing her throat with a bush-knife. It is alleged that both women were killed on the same day.

This is because the suspect had sent two short text messages (SMS) to his landlord informing them of a possible dead girl [Shikongo] in his rented room and another to Shikesho's brother in Oranjemund, informing the brother that Shikesho was dead. Shikesho was stabbed 27 times according to police sources.

The suspect is currently under police guard at the Oshakati Intermediate Hospital.

Police found him unconscious at his parents' home at the village of Otjitowa, having swallowed a handful of sleeping pills with liquid surgical spirit.

Police had gone to arrest him in connection with Shikongo's murder, and at that time had not yet discovered the body of Shikesho, although there were strong suspicions that she was also dead owing to a SMS message the police had seen.

According to sources, there is a third woman, name unknown, who is speculated to have been a target as well. Sources allege that the third woman was invited to fetch meat from the suspect's place but declined the offer.

It is alleged that all three women were in a relationship with the suspect, who had promised marriage to all of them.

On Monday morning Shikesho walked about 17 kilometres from her home village to collect the suspect who was waiting for her at a roadside in the area. Footprints clearly indicate that the pair walked together to Shikesho's homestead at Okaukamasheshe.

Although details of what exactly transpired on that fateful evening are sketchy, it is suspected that the suspect persuaded Shikesho to fetch mattresses and a blanket from her bedroom and the two subsequently went into the field where she was found dead.

Shikesho sustained 21 stab wounds on her back and three on the chest. She was also stabbed once in the left eye, on the neck and she had a cut on her ring finger. Police discovered a kitchen knife and a cellphone at the scene of her death. According to police sources, the suspect told nurses that he gave Shikongo N$50 000 and N$40 000 on two different occasions but she squandered the money.