Rape accused dies by suicide

A 38-year-old man, recently released from prison on a rape charge, reportedly raped another woman in Walvis Bay’s Narraville suburb, and then died by suicide.

According to a Namibian Police report, the incident took place on Monday night at around 19:00.

The suspect, identified as Herman de Klerk, allegedly lured the 31-year-old victim into a house under the guise of needing help to close a window. The victim lives in a flat on the same property.

"After they closed the window, the suspect locked the house door, grabbed her by the neck and, following other acts of force, pushed her into the bathroom and had sexual intercourse with her under coercive circumstances," the report read.

After raping the victim, De Klerk allegedly threatened to kill himself if she reported the matter.

"The victim returned to her flat and told someone what happened, who then called the police. Found in a terrified condition by the police, the victim was taken to the hospital for a medical examination."

De Klerk, the nephew of the owner of the house, could not be found at the time, and was consequently not arrested.

The next day at around 15:00, police attended to a suicide reported at the same house where the rape took place.

De Klerk had hung himself in the garage.

According to the police, he had recently been released from a correctional facility "after serving 10 years in custody on a rape case".