A woman accused of murdering two people in an arson attack in Windhoek near the end of 2022 told a police officer she started the fatal blaze, but did not intend to kill anybody.
This is according to testimony given in the Windhoek High Court yesterday.
The testimony was heard during the trial of Mecthilde Karomo (34), who is being prosecuted on two charges of murder and a count of arson.
The state is alleging that Karomo murdered two people by setting fire to a house in the Okahandja Park area of Windhoek on 26 December 2022.
According to the state, Karomo was involved in a romantic relationship with a man, Leonard Kadubuli (36), before he started a relationship with Annastasia Matende (31) shortly before his death.
It is alleged that during the late hours of 25 December 2022, Karomo went to Kadubuli’s shack house in the Okahandja Park area, where she demanded that he unlock the door while Matende was asleep inside.
Kadubuli refused to unlock the door, and a scuffle ensued between him and Karomo, the state is alleging.
It is also alleged that Karomo threatened to burn down Kadubuli’s house and kill both him and Matende.
During the early morning hours of the next day, Karomo allegedly returned to Kadubuli’s house and set it alight while Kadubuli and Matende were asleep inside.
The shack house was destroyed in the ensuing fire, in which Kadubuli and Matende both died.
Karomo was arrested on the same day.
She denied guilt on all three charges when her trial began before judge Claudia Claasen two weeks ago.
A police officer, detective warrant officer Joseph Sakaria, testified yesterday that when he met Karomo at Wanaheda Police Station in Windhoek early during the morning of 26 December 2022, she told him she had been brought there by the police.
Sakaria said Karomo, who looked scared and was crying, also said the police had rescued her from community members who were beating her up after she had burnt down her boyfriend’s shack.
He said he informed Karomo of her rights – including the rights to remain silent and to get legal representation – several times, and she indicated to him that she understood her rights.
According to Sakaria, Karomo said “she feels bad for what she has done by burning down the shack and causing the death of her then boyfriend and the other person that was in the shack”.
Sakaria continued: “She then added to say her intention was not to kill them, however, it was just to burn down the shack because she was jealous when she heard that her then boyfriend was having another lady.”
He said he also warned Karomo that what she was saying appeared to be leading to a confession. She replied that she did not want to waste time and wanted to tell the truth, as she felt bad about what she had done, Sakaria testified.
His testimony was given during a trial within a trial to determine whether an alleged confession made by Karomo would be allowed as evidence in her trial.
Defence lawyer Mbanga Siyomunji has indicated to the judge that the alleged confession was not made freely and voluntarily, without undue influence and while Karomo was in her sound and sober senses.
The trial is continuing.
Karomo was released on bail in an amount of N$3 000 at the end of May last year.
Deputy prosecutor general Dominic Lisulo is representing the state.
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