Barricade tape for crime scene (Courtesy)

A 52-year-old farmer has been hospitalized in Warrap for allegedly attempting to commit suicide after killing his 32-year-old wife early this week.

The state Deputy Police Commissioner Major General Mayuo Abet said the man identified only by his first name Mayen, murdered his wife Abuk Madut for allegedly misusing food ration at home.

The accused then burned down his family home, before stabbing himself to near death with a spear.

“It is clear through police investigations from the report written on the 20th at six o’clock in the evening, that there is a husband who killed his wife using a knife and set his house on fire and stabbed himself with a spear in an attempt to commit suicide,” Abet told Eye Radio from Warrap on Sunday.

The late, 32-year-old Abuk Madut is mother of five children.

The incident which occurred in Gogrial West is the first of its kind in the area, according to the police official.

Despite the opaque nature of the crime, General Abet said it’s known that the perpetrator has been in a dispute with his wife over the rationing of food stuff in the household.

“What is clear is that there was a dispute between him and his wife about the wife’s misuse of foodstuffs at home, in light of the husband’s fear of ending of the food before the harvest season. He was said to have warned his wife before not to manipulate food stocks.”

Suspected culprit Mayen is now hospitalized after spearing himself on the stomach and neck. Police said he is stable but unable to make a statement.