A woman convicted of murdering two people by setting a house in Windhoek on fire near the end of 2022 has been sentenced to an effective period of 35 years’ imprisonment.
Mecthilde Karomo (34) was sentenced in the Windhoek High Court on Friday.
Judge Claudia Claasen sentenced Karomo to 32 years’ imprisonment on each of two counts of murder, and ordered that those sentences should be served concurrently. She also sentenced Karomo to a jail term of three years on a charge of arson.
Karomo was found guilty on the three charges on 20 April.
She was accused of murdering her then boyfriend, Leonard Haupindi (36), and a woman, Anastasia Matende (31), by setting Haupindi’s house in the Okahandja Park area of Windhoek on fire during the early morning hours of 26 December 2022.
Haupindi and Matende both died in the fire that destroyed his house.
During Karomo’s trial, the court heard that Karomo had threatened to set Haupindi’s house alight after she became aware that Matende was in the house.
Karomo is a mother of two children, the court was informed after she was found guilty.
Haupindi had six children, and Matende had four children.
The ripple effect of Karomo’s actions extends far beyond the immediate victims of the fire, and will be felt by several other people for many years, Claasen remarked during the sentencing.
It is in the interests of society that the courts should protect the sanctity of life, Claasen also said.
It is clear that Karomo’s irrational behaviour was driven by anger and jealousy, Claasen commented.
Karomo denied guilt on the charges when her trial started in April 2025.
