Murdered pensioner’s family left with no closure two years on

“The police should get serious with their work, because it’s traumatising.”

So say family members of Elina Samuel (80), who was allegedly raped and murdered at Omuthiya’s Omainda village in December 2022.

Police spokesperson chief inspector Elifas Kuwinga two years ago confirmed the incident in the Oshikoto region, saying Samuel was attacked with a panga and raped.

The pensioner was allegedly cutting camel thorn branches to cover the fence of her house when the incident took place.

She was found in a pool of blood.

Kuwinga says she had three cut wounds to her head.

Samuel’s granddaughter, who was four at the time, witnessed the incident.

She saw a man attacking her grandmother before fleeing.

Selma Shaanika (43), Samuel’s niece, says after her burial, feedback from the police became limited.

She says she phoned them again last month.

“They told me they were granted permission by the High Court to complete the last part of the investigation, but nothing was done,” she says.

This pending case is delaying us from getting the closure we deserve,” she says.

Jeremia Linus (31), another of Samuel’s granddaughters, says: “It’s very painful how my grandmother was murdered with no justice for her.

“I don’t know how far the case has gone. How long are we supposed to wait for the investigation to be done? The police are really failing us,” she says.

Oshikoto regional crime investigations coordinator deputy commissioner Titus Ekandjo says there are no developments or new information in the case.

“No suspect has been apprehended and no additional information has been gathered yet,” he says.

Ekandjo asked members of the public with information on the suspect to call chief inspector Hans Amuthenu at 081 129 0849.