Kimberley - A fight, apparently over soap for washing cars, on Monday ended in the death of a man in the parking area of the Kimberley Public Library.
A 27-year-old suspect will appear in the Kimberley Magistrate’s Court on a charge of murder following the incident.
While pathologists removed the body of the victim shortly after noon in front of a growing crowd of onlookers, an eyewitness on the scene said that a verbal altercation rapidly escalated between the two men.
The deceased, who cannot be named until his next of kin have been informed, apparently refused to share his soap for washing cars with the accused, who then allegedly assaulted him before pulling out a knife and stabbing him.
“We were all busy washing cars when he (the accused) came across and asked for soap as he did not have any to complete what he was doing,” the witness, who asked not to be named, said.
“The victim said he was not going to give him any and they began to argue.
“The next moment he (the victim) punched the accused twice in the face. I told him to just leave it and finish washing the car that he was busy with but that was not the end of it.
“The accused pulled out a knife and stabbed him.”
Members of the provincial emergency services arrived on the scene shortly after the incident and attended to the victim, who eventually died as a result of his injuries in the back of the ambulance.
Police also arrived on the scene and arrested the subject, who is scheduled to appear in the Kimberley Magistrate’s Court on a charge of murder.
Police spokeswoman, Major Dimakatso Mooi, on Monday confirmed that the police are investigating a case of murder.
“At about 11.30am two males were involved in an argument in a parking lot.
“It is believed that one of the men asked the other for soap to wash a car and an argument erupted between the two. According to information received, the deceased hit the suspect with his fist and a few minutes later the suspect retaliated.
“The suspect is expected to appear in court soon. The police investigation continues.”
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