An 88-year-old pensioner, Gustav Willem, from Okahanya village in the Oshikoto Region, was denied bail this morning at the Ondangwa Magistrate's Court after appearing for the alleged rape of his girlfriend’s 3-year-old grandchild last Tuesday. 

Willem faces a charge of murder and rape read with GBV, and his case has been postponed to April 3 this year. 

It's alleged that the 3-year-old and two other minors, ages 2 and 7, went to fetch water at their grandmother's partner's house.

According to the 7-year-old girl, while busy filling their containers, the suspect called the deceased into the hut and closed the door.

The suspect then forced the deceased to lie on the bed, removed her pants, and engaged in sexual intercourse under duress.

The suspect later released the girl, and the three children walked back home. On the way, the victim became unable to walk any further, so the 7-year-old directed the 2-year-old girl to go get the baby carrier from the house so she could carry her.

When they arrived home, they informed the grandmother; however, as it was late, the grandmother only took the deceased to Onyaanya Health Center on Wednesday, and by then her condition had worsened due to injuries sustained during the rape, and she was declared dead upon arrival. 

Oshikoto police regional commander Commissioner Teopolina Kalompo-Nashikaku told nbc News that preliminary investigations revealed that the deceased had scratch marks on the neck from strangulation as well as beatings.

Ndapanda Shuuya