Boois gets 23 years for murder of infant son
Vapeni Lucia Boois (37) has been sentenced to 23 years in prison for the murder of her one-year-old son, Amare Boois, in a case the Windhoek High Court described as shocking and deeply disturbing.
The sentence was handed down on Friday following a detailed judgment outlining the brutality of the crime and its impact on the victim’s family and society.
Boois was convicted of stabbing her infant son multiple times on a farm near Bethanie in January 2023. A post-mortem examination revealed eight stab wounds to the neck and seven to the chest, including fatal injuries to the jugular vein and liver.
She also received an additional two-year sentence for obstructing or defeating the course of justice, which will run concurrently with the murder sentence.
Alleged motive linked to relationship dispute
Amare’s paternal relatives believe the attack occurred after Boois discovered that the child’s father was married, and that his wife had forgiven him for the affair that led to the child’s birth.
During sentencing arguments, Judge Philanda Christiaan said Boois violated a fundamental maternal duty to protect her child.
“The crime shocks the conscience of society and must be met with the firmest condemnation,” she said.
The court found that Boois deliberately removed the child from the care of his paternal family and took him into the veld, where she later buried his body in a shallow grave with a Bible placed on top. She then burned clothing and personal items in an attempt to conceal the crime and mislead investigators.
Mental health considered, but intent confirmed
Psychiatric assessments found Boois suffered from borderline personality disorder and depressive symptoms, but confirmed she was fit to stand trial and aware of the wrongfulness of her actions. The court cited her preparations and attempt to flee as evidence of planning and intent.
The court ordered the forfeiture of several items linked to the crime, including clothing, personal effects, and the Bible found on the child’s body.
Family calls for life sentence
During mitigation, the child’s paternal grandmother, Agnes Hammerslaght, described a close bond with Amare and the emotional devastation caused by his death.
“The moment he reached out to me, I felt he was my own grandchild... His death has caused us profound pain,” she testified.
Hammerslaght told the court she believed Boois deserved life imprisonment, but ultimately left the sentence to the court’s discretion.
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The sentence was handed down on Friday following a detailed judgment outlining the brutality of the crime and its impact on the victim’s family and society.
Boois was convicted of stabbing her infant son multiple times on a farm near Bethanie in January 2023. A post-mortem examination revealed eight stab wounds to the neck and seven to the chest, including fatal injuries to the jugular vein and liver.
She also received an additional two-year sentence for obstructing or defeating the course of justice, which will run concurrently with the murder sentence.
Alleged motive linked to relationship dispute
Amare’s paternal relatives believe the attack occurred after Boois discovered that the child’s father was married, and that his wife had forgiven him for the affair that led to the child’s birth.
During sentencing arguments, Judge Philanda Christiaan said Boois violated a fundamental maternal duty to protect her child.
“The crime shocks the conscience of society and must be met with the firmest condemnation,” she said.
The court found that Boois deliberately removed the child from the care of his paternal family and took him into the veld, where she later buried his body in a shallow grave with a Bible placed on top. She then burned clothing and personal items in an attempt to conceal the crime and mislead investigators.
Mental health considered, but intent confirmed
Psychiatric assessments found Boois suffered from borderline personality disorder and depressive symptoms, but confirmed she was fit to stand trial and aware of the wrongfulness of her actions. The court cited her preparations and attempt to flee as evidence of planning and intent.
The court ordered the forfeiture of several items linked to the crime, including clothing, personal effects, and the Bible found on the child’s body.
Family calls for life sentence
During mitigation, the child’s paternal grandmother, Agnes Hammerslaght, described a close bond with Amare and the emotional devastation caused by his death.
“The moment he reached out to me, I felt he was my own grandchild... His death has caused us profound pain,” she testified.
Hammerslaght told the court she believed Boois deserved life imprisonment, but ultimately left the sentence to the court’s discretion.
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