adminThe Herald, June 28, 1980
WINDHOEK. – In a tragic family murder here, a 37-year-old father shot his wife and two young children twice each before turning the pistol to his own head.
Police, who on Thursday found the bodies in the main bedroom of the family’s home in a middle-class suburb, are still trying to establish a motive for the slaying.
The dead man was Mr Michael Casparus Scholtz, an employee of the Department of Water Affairs.
His wife, Ute (32), and children Sandra (3) and David (2) were found with bullet wounds in their heads and chests.
The grim scene was uncovered by police when a neighbour reported suspicious circumstances at the house in Soctrates Street, Academia.
She found the front door locked and all the windows shut. A senior police spokesman said yesterday the shootings apparently took place on Wednesday night. The whole family was clad in pyjamas and it appeared that the children had already slept in their beds before being taken to the main bedroom.
The Scholtz family was described by friends as “happy and decent”.
LESSONS FOR TODAY
Uxoricide is the killing of one’s own wife. It can refer to the act itself or the person who carries it out. It can also be used in the context of the killing of one’s own girlfriend. The killing of a husband is called mariticide.
The killing of children by their parents is called filicides.
Cases of fathers killing their families are usually motivated by a number of issues, but in most cases, it is because of differences between the parents. Children are usually the victims.
Parents must learn to talk about and resolve their disputes without resorting to violent measures. In instances where they cannot resolve issues between them, they should reach out to relatives, friends or trained professionals for assistance and counselling.
Peter Tanyanyiwa
Online Reporter