Cousins in fatal quarrel over clothes

A New Year’s Day celebration turned tragic in a Centane village when a man was stabbed to death on Tuesday morning amid an argument over another man’s dress code.

Police arrested a youth of 25 suspected of stabbing a 22-yearold man to death in Centane’s Gobe Village, said Butterworth police spokesperson Captain Jackson Manatha.

“It is alleged that the deceased asked why the suspect was wearing a T-shirt and short trousers,” Manatha said.

“The suspect became angry and stabbed the deceased on his upper body. The 22-year-old was rushed to Butterworth Hospital in a private car but was confirmed dead on arrival at the hospital,” Manatha said.

He said the two young men, were both neighbours and relatives.

The incident happened in an open space outside their homesteads, right after celebrating the start of the New Year.

“The incident did not happen at a traditional event or party, it was just at an open space in the village. They had just come out of their homes during the lighting of firecrackers.

“We are still investigating what could really have led to this because it happened at a time when people were just coming out of their houses to mark the beginning of the New Year.”

The identity of the deceased is being withheld until all his relatives are officially informed of his death. “It seems the two men were cousins and their homes are not that far away from each other,” he added.

The suspect is due to appear at the Centane magistrate’s court on Thursday on a charge of murder.