Convicted women urge others in abusive relationships to seek help

Two women jailed for killing their partners have urged others to avoid toxic relationships and seek help to avoid the mistakes they made.

Anthea Arnold and Bianca Engelbrecht spoke at the first Women’s Conference in Windhoek on Saturday.

Thirty-nine- year-old Arnold is serving a 17-year jail sentence for killing her ex-boyfriend on 15 May 2011.

She spoke about the devastating impact of letting emotions control one’s actions.

“I lost a lot in life because I left my two beautiful children growing up without their mother. Let me be an example to someone today. Look for help, speak up, and find someone to talk to. End toxic relationships, it’s very dangerous, it can cause your life or the other way around, make use of available resources to find help,” said Arnold.

Thirty-two-year-old Engelbrecht, who is serving an 18-year jail sentence for killing her boyfriend, urged women to leave abusive relationships.

Engelbrecht spoke about how abuse and lack of support led to where she is today.

“I bottled up the anger and pain of abuse for a longer period, till a point where I went blank and acted out. Let that not happen to you. Learn from my mistakes and don’t take the same route. Reach out, talk to someone, seek professional help. Let’s break the cycle of abuse in our society,” remarked Engelbrecht, who added that life in the correctional facility is rosy.

She added: I have concerns about my daughter, who is now 16-years-old and growing up without me. Let that not be you,” narrated Engelbrecht

Namibian Correctional Service deputy Commissioner-General for Offenders Rehabilitation and Reintegration, Mariana Martin, said most women offenders’ crimes are linked to gender-based violence.

“Research has also found that women who have suffered from gender-based violence are also more likely to be part of offences involving drugs, offences, often as a means to cope with a trauma or as a result of being coerced by their intimate partners to do so,” stated Martini.

Martin added that most women commit crimes under high emotional distress from abusive relationships.