Girl can't tell which identical twin raped her
Police in Oshikoto are facing a challenge in identifying which of two identical twin boys allegedly raped a 5-year-old girl, as the victim is unable to distinguish between them.
The girl was reportedly raped by a nine-year-old cousin—one of the twins—at Tsintsabis settlement. According to the police report, both twins are suspects because the victim cannot determine which brother committed the act.
The incident occurred in December last year, based on preliminary investigations. “It is alleged that the victim and the two male suspects, who are identical twins and cousins of the victim, were at Tsintsabis for the holidays from Tsumeb,” the report states.
“One of the twins, on an unknown date during nighttime, undressed the victim and had sexual intercourse with her, causing injuries to her private parts. On 29 December 2024, the suspects and the victim were in Elavi village visiting their grandmother. The victim informed her brother about the incident when they went to relieve themselves in the bushes. The victim’s brother then informed their grandmother about the matter.”
Investigations into the matter are ongoing.
Local psychologist Dr. Shaun Whittaker described the incident as deeply shocking, noting that boys typically develop sexual hormones around age 13. Whittaker suggested that if a boy as young as nine commits such an act, it could indicate that he has been a victim of sexual abuse himself.
“For boys, hormones usually change from age 13. So, one does not expect a 9-year-old boy to do something like this,” Whittaker explained. “One possible conclusion is that the boy is also being sexually molested. Watching pornography alone would not necessarily lead to such behavior; the more likely explanation is that this boy has experienced sexual abuse himself. Experiencing something directly increases the likelihood of repeating it.”
Dr. Whittaker emphasized the importance of professional intervention for both the suspect and the victim. The victim, in particular, will require substantial psychological support to deal with the trauma, which could have lifelong repercussions.
“A 5-year-old experiencing such trauma could face highly distressing, long-term consequences,” he said. “It’s crucial for her parents to provide support and ensure she receives regular therapy over the course of her childhood and adolescence. Especially as puberty begins at age 11, ongoing sessions with a social worker or psychologist will be vital. While therapy can help manage the trauma, it is a challenging process for a child or young teenager.” - [email protected]
The girl was reportedly raped by a nine-year-old cousin—one of the twins—at Tsintsabis settlement. According to the police report, both twins are suspects because the victim cannot determine which brother committed the act.
The incident occurred in December last year, based on preliminary investigations. “It is alleged that the victim and the two male suspects, who are identical twins and cousins of the victim, were at Tsintsabis for the holidays from Tsumeb,” the report states.
“One of the twins, on an unknown date during nighttime, undressed the victim and had sexual intercourse with her, causing injuries to her private parts. On 29 December 2024, the suspects and the victim were in Elavi village visiting their grandmother. The victim informed her brother about the incident when they went to relieve themselves in the bushes. The victim’s brother then informed their grandmother about the matter.”
Investigations into the matter are ongoing.
Local psychologist Dr. Shaun Whittaker described the incident as deeply shocking, noting that boys typically develop sexual hormones around age 13. Whittaker suggested that if a boy as young as nine commits such an act, it could indicate that he has been a victim of sexual abuse himself.
“For boys, hormones usually change from age 13. So, one does not expect a 9-year-old boy to do something like this,” Whittaker explained. “One possible conclusion is that the boy is also being sexually molested. Watching pornography alone would not necessarily lead to such behavior; the more likely explanation is that this boy has experienced sexual abuse himself. Experiencing something directly increases the likelihood of repeating it.”
Dr. Whittaker emphasized the importance of professional intervention for both the suspect and the victim. The victim, in particular, will require substantial psychological support to deal with the trauma, which could have lifelong repercussions.
“A 5-year-old experiencing such trauma could face highly distressing, long-term consequences,” he said. “It’s crucial for her parents to provide support and ensure she receives regular therapy over the course of her childhood and adolescence. Especially as puberty begins at age 11, ongoing sessions with a social worker or psychologist will be vital. While therapy can help manage the trauma, it is a challenging process for a child or young teenager.” - [email protected]
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