Faizel Patel, Radio Islam News, 2014-04-18

A 40-year-old Benoni man accused of murdering his wife with a crossbow while she was reading salaah (prayer) has been arrested.



39-year-old Shameema Mohammed Shamoon’s body was found in sajdah  (a kneeling) position on Thursday morning.



The man who is a revert to Islam reportedly shot Shamoon, removed the arrow and shot her two more times.

Moulana Rafick Bellim told Radio Islam the accused phoned the mother at approximately 8am told her your daughter has gone to Jannah (paradise).

“When the mother and daughter arrived, he welcomed them…he said ‘welcome’ and told the sister I also want to take your life,” added Moulana Bellim.

Police spokesperson Katlego Mogale said the woman was found dead in their house on Wednesday evening, and details were still sketchy.



Another man apparently came across the husband carrying the crossbow around 08:20am.



Mogale said the man who is reportedly the nephew argued with the husband and went to check in the bedroom where he found a woman lying on the floor.



The husband apparently threatened the man, who then ran out of the house to alert the police.



"When police arrived, they found the 39-year-old woman lying in a pool of blood. She had sustained a wound in the upper body," said Mogale.

She was certified dead on the scene.

Moulana Bellim said the couple was married for 4 years. “The accused had reverted to Islam, his parents and brother is living in Brakpan and from the information that we received, his brother also murdered his wife."

The motive is killing is not known, but Moulana Bellim said: “It seems that the officers that were there (sic) there were some drugs that were found. We don’t know definitely sure that he was high or whatever, Allah knows best.” 



Meanwhile the Jamiatul Ulama South Africa (The Council of Muslim Theologians) said it will send an imam (community leader) to visit the man who was arrested.



Secretary General of the organisation Moulana Ebrahim Bham told Radio Islam they have already met with the victim's family.



“The council has already made contact and were the ones who broke the news to the family of the deceased.”



Bham said they will now attempt to determine what led to the man killing his wife.



“We’re in contact with the local imam and will be visiting the man in jail to find out about his state of mind and circumstances behind the situation.”



The man is due to appear in the Benoni Magistrates Court on Tuesday and the council says it will monitor developments in the case. 

(Twitter: @Faizie143)