Woman found guilty on two murder charges

An Arson attack that claimed the lives of two people in Windhoek near the end of 2022 was sparked by jealousy and anger, a judge concluded in the Windhoek High Court yesterday.

It was clear on all accounts that Windhoek resident Mecthilde Karomo (33) “was triggered by jealousy and anger at her boyfriend’s new woman”, judge Claudia Claasen remarked while delivering her verdict in Karomo’s trial.

Claasen added: “This emotion ignited a desire to destroy Leonard’s shack. Her admission that she did not intend to kill Leonard and Annastasia is not decisive, as only one of the factors to consider, while the court’s approach should be to consider all the evidence holistically.”

Karomo was accused of starting a fire that destroyed the house of her then boyfriend, Leonard Haupindi (36), in the Okahandja Park area of Windhoek during the early morning hours of 26 December 2022.

Haupindi and Annastasia Matende (31), who were both in the house, died in the fire.

Claasen found Karomo guilty on two charges of murder, committed without a direct intention to kill, and a count of arson.

By setting fire to Haupindi’s house at night, knowing that he and his new girlfriend were inside or likely to be inside, Karomo foresaw the possibility that they could be trapped, suffocate or burn to death, Claasen said.

During Karomo’s trial, two witnesses testified that a physical altercation between Karomo and Haupindi had taken place at his house during the evening before his shack was destroyed by fire, Claasen recounted.

That fight happened after Haupindi refused to open the door of his house for Karomo, who had heard that there was a woman sleeping inside the house.

After the altercation, Karomo made a threat that she would burn down Haupindi’s house if he and the woman in his house slept there, one of the two witnesses told the court.

According to the other witness, Karomo shouted that Haupindi would not sleep in his house and that she would burn the house down, Claasen recounted as well.

Karomo made a confession to a magistrate after her arrest, Claasen also noted.

She told the magistrate she demanded that Haupindi should open the door of his house after she had heard there was a woman inside, but he refused and got angry.

During an argument between her and Haupindi, he hit her on the head and a physical fight started, she said.

Karomo said she went to her house, which was next to Haupindi’s, after people had pulled her out of his yard, and overheard Haupindi referring to her as “that useless woman”, which hurt and angered her.

Karomo also told the magistrate she heard the sound of Haupindi’s door closing and thought he and the woman at his house had gone out. She then decided to set his shack on fire, she said.

After setting fire to a curtain in the shack, she returned home, put on earphones and listened to music, Karomo said.

She was later woken up by the sound of a stone falling on her roof, and then saw that Haupindi’s house had burnt down, she said.

It was clear from Karomo’s own words in her confession that she displayed a careless attitude after setting the house alight, Claasen said.

That showed she reconciled herself to the risk that Haupindi and Matende could die as a result of the fire she had started, Claasen said.

She rejected Karomo’s denial during her trial that she had started the fire as “false beyond all doubt”.

Karomo, who is being represented by defence lawyer Mbanga Siyomunji, was free on bail in an amount of N$3 000.

Claasen withdrew her bail after finding her guilty.

Karomo has to return to court for a presentence hearing on 27 April.

The state is being represented by deputy prosecutor general Dominic Lisulo.

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