Cop in hospital after failed suicide attempt

By Tando Mfengwana

11 September 2006

A police officer, who shot and killed his wife in their house in Kgapane, Limpopo, at 7pm on Saturday, is in a critical condition in hospital.

Independent Online reports that Inspector Leonard Malematja, 42, stationed at the Modjadjieskloof pulled out a gun when an argument broke between him and his wife, he then shot her twice in the forehead, killing her, then turned the gun on himself, but survived.

Malematja was taken to the Van Velden Hospital, near Tzaneen, the hospital said that he suffered serious brain damage and needed to be stabilised before he can go for brain operation.

The couple has two children a boy of 14 and a girl of 12, which were in the house the time the incident occurred but did not witness the death of their mother, but heard the commotion.

The report says that they were highly traumatised and are being cared for by relatives.