Woman gets 35 years for double murder and arson

NAMPA

2026-05-29

Windhoek, 29 May- Mechthilde Karomo. (Photo by Eba Kandovazu). NAMPA

WINDHOEK, 29 MAY (NAMPA) – The Windhoek High Court on Friday sentenced Mechthilde Karomo to 35 years in prison for the murder of her boyfriend and another woman she suspected was his new girlfriend on 26 December 2022.
Karomo set alight Leonard Kadubuli’s shack while he was asleep in the company of Anastasia Matende. The incident reportedly happened at Okahandja Park, an information settlement in Windhoek. She also faced a charge of arson.
On the night in question, Karomo reportedly went to Kadubuli’s shack and demanded that he open the door. She then reportedly threatened to burn down the shack and kill the occupants.
Karomo allegedly returned in the early hours of the next day and set the shack on fire, killing Kadubuli and Matende while they were asleep.
In her ruling, Judge Claudia Claasen said Karomo compensated the deceased families an amount of N.dollars 77 000, following an order by a community court in Mbunza. Her lawyer, Mbanga Siyomunji initially suggested that she be sentenced to 16 years imprisonment, arguing that she is a first-time offender.
During submissions before sentencing, Matende’s mother testified that she left behind four children, whom she now struggles to support as she is a pensioner.
According to her, Matende was employed at the time of her demise, and was a breadwinner.
Judge Claasen also found that Karomo admitted to going back to her home after setting Kadubuli’s shack on fire and “nonchalantly put earphones on to listen to music.”
The judge found that Karomo’s actions were careless and dangerous in that she did not consider that the fire would spread to the neighbouring shacks.
Judge Claasen also found that the fact that Karomo did not testify in mitigation and subsequently failed to apologise for her actions, weighed against her.
(NAMPA)
EB/PS/AS

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