Housewife and her niece 'axed to death'

TANGERANG (JP): A housewife and her niece were found dead in a house on Jl. Taman Asri Lama in Kampung Cipadu, Ciledug district, here yesterday, police said.

Tangerang Police chief Lt. Col. Pudji Hartanto said the bodies of the victims, identified as Sri Suyati, 35, and Endah Srianingsih, 14, were found at about 9 a.m. by a neighbor, Ipah, 60.

"Ipah was going to collect a pail of water and noticed that the door of the victims' house was open. She glanced inside and found Suyati lying dead in a pool of blood. She screamed and fetched other local residents," Pudji said.

Sriyati's niece, Endah, was found dead in the kitchen.

The murders are believed to have happened at night while Suyati's husband, Sarmin, 40, was working a night shift in his job as a security guard at a plastics manufacturing company in Cidodol, South Jakarta.

"The two victims had both suffered severe stab wounds in what appeared to be a frenzied attack," Pudji added.

Police found a bloodstained ax and a knife, which they believe were the murder weapons.

Pudji also said nothing had been stolen from the house.

"Apparently this was not a robbery. But we are still investigating all possibilities.

"Sarmin said he was not at home when the incident happened. He claimed to have already left for work. We're currently questioning him and trying to find out if there was any motive behind the attack," Pudji added.

Police also questioned six other witnesses, including Ipah and Tulatmi, Sarmin's former wife who lives in a nearby house.

"We are running forensic tests on the evidence. Hopefully that will help us to trace the killer quickly," Pudji added.

The victims' bodies were sent to Tangerang Hospital for postmortem examinations. (41/edt)