Iuze Mukube
A 35-year-old Okahandja Park resident, accused of murdering her former boyfriend and his girlfriend by setting them alight in a shack while asleep, pleaded not guilty to the murder, and arson charges on Monday.
Mecthilde Karomo informed Judge Claudia Claasen that she will not offer any plea explanation and instead placed the onus on the State to prove the charges.
She stands accused of two counts of murder, read with the provisions of the Combating of Domestic Violence Act, and one count of arson, alternatively malicious damage to property.
The charges are in relation to the deaths of Leonard Haupindi Kadubuli and Anastasia Ihemba Matende.
It is alleged that Karomo intentionally killed her ex-boyfriend and his then-alleged girlfriend by setting alight Kadubuli’s shack on 26 December 2022.
It is further alleged that the incident occurred due to relationship issues, as on 25 December 2022, Karomo allegedly threatened Kadubuli that she would set his house on fire after an altercation between them.
Later, the accused allegedly set the shack alight while the couple was asleep, resulting in Kadubuli and Matende burning to death in Windhoek’s Okahandja Park informal settlement.
Karomo is further charged with arson for allegedly setting Kadubuli’s shack on fire, or alternatively malicious damage to property, as various items inside the shack were destroyed by the fire.
She pleaded not guilty to the three counts.
The accused is represented by Mbanga Siyomunji, and the State by Dominic Lisulo.