Slain woman had protection order
The late Johanna Cecilia Keramin-Beukes had recently obtained a protective order against her husband before he killed her last week in an apparent murder-suicide while she was attending choir practice at the AGS church in Mariental, police said.
Her police husband, chief inspector Michael Beukes, killed her in the presence of their two-year-old toddler on Thursday afternoon.
This was confirmed by police spokesperson chief inspector Elifas Kuwinga who also said the couple had ongoing marital problems.
"The only son in the couple's marriage is plus-minus two years old; the exact age will be confirmed later. The son was present at the church where the mother was shot dead; he gave his child to one of the ladies who were at the church. When the chief shot himself to death [at his house], the child was not present. Both the deceased have children outside their marriage," police said.
The police said Beukes allegedly shot his wife several times with a Bersa Lusber 7.65mm semi-automatic pistol in the church, while she was attending choir practice, and five spent cartridges and two projectiles were recovered at the scene.
Beukes reportedly shot himself in the head in front of his house – a spent cartridge was recovered at the scene.
Denied help
According to community members, the couple had a tumultuous marriage for a considerable time, and Keramin-Beukes had asked for a divorce several times.
Namibian Sun has also reliably learned from a source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, that she allegedly repeatedly tried to report her husband but was talked out of it by his colleagues.
"She went there many times, but the police always told her not to open the case because it would count against him during promotions, so she often went back without anything. The police confiscated his service and personal guns – the gun he killed her with, we understand, he got on the black market, and the police are aware of who it belongs to," the source said.
Hunted
He added that the deceased apparently shot his wife first in the leg, after which she fell.
It is alleged he then chased some of the church members because he believed they knew of her alleged relationship with someone senior in the church and had condoned it.
When contacted for comment, Kuwinga said he was not aware of these claims and referred questions to police deputy commissioner Gesina Nel, who was not reachable.
[email protected]
Her police husband, chief inspector Michael Beukes, killed her in the presence of their two-year-old toddler on Thursday afternoon.
This was confirmed by police spokesperson chief inspector Elifas Kuwinga who also said the couple had ongoing marital problems.
"The only son in the couple's marriage is plus-minus two years old; the exact age will be confirmed later. The son was present at the church where the mother was shot dead; he gave his child to one of the ladies who were at the church. When the chief shot himself to death [at his house], the child was not present. Both the deceased have children outside their marriage," police said.
The police said Beukes allegedly shot his wife several times with a Bersa Lusber 7.65mm semi-automatic pistol in the church, while she was attending choir practice, and five spent cartridges and two projectiles were recovered at the scene.
Beukes reportedly shot himself in the head in front of his house – a spent cartridge was recovered at the scene.
Denied help
According to community members, the couple had a tumultuous marriage for a considerable time, and Keramin-Beukes had asked for a divorce several times.
Namibian Sun has also reliably learned from a source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, that she allegedly repeatedly tried to report her husband but was talked out of it by his colleagues.
"She went there many times, but the police always told her not to open the case because it would count against him during promotions, so she often went back without anything. The police confiscated his service and personal guns – the gun he killed her with, we understand, he got on the black market, and the police are aware of who it belongs to," the source said.
Hunted
He added that the deceased apparently shot his wife first in the leg, after which she fell.
It is alleged he then chased some of the church members because he believed they knew of her alleged relationship with someone senior in the church and had condoned it.
When contacted for comment, Kuwinga said he was not aware of these claims and referred questions to police deputy commissioner Gesina Nel, who was not reachable.
[email protected]
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