… High Court Judge Claudia Claasen, in November 2025, recused herself after she was presented with evidence not yet before the court in a psychiatric report on Shipanga. …
Shipanga trial slated to commence amidst court outburstsNamibia Minute.
Monday, 11 May 2026
Namibia’s news, on the hour · Est. 2026
Monday, 11 May 2026
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Person
Claudia Claasen
Also known as: Judge Claasen · High Court Judge Claudia Claasen
High Court Judge presiding over murder and rape cases in Namibia, including convictions and acquittals since 2026.
In coverage
Verbatim sentences from the source article.
- May 2026
- April 2026
… 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. …
Woman found guilty on two murder chargesUPDATE: High Court Judge Claudia Claasen has found Mecthilde Karomo (33) guilty on two counts of murder with direct intent for the killing of her late boyfriend, Leonard Haupindi (36), and his new lover, Annastasia Matende (31). …
Karomo found guilty of murdering boyfriend and his loverIuze Mukube There were no eyewitnesses or forensic evidence linking Adam Isaack to the murder of Eldin Fransman seven years ago at Gibeon in Mariental, according to Windhoek High Court Judge Claudia Claasen. …
Mariental man acquitted of murder- March 2026
… In his testimony before High Court Judge Claudia Claasen, Parata discounted claims that the household items of Karomo had also caught fire, adding that he merely observed smoke in Karomo’s house. …
Neighbour testifies in trial of woman accused of double arson murder… Karomo was testifying on Tuesday before Windhoek High Court judge Claudia Claasen. …
Ex-girlfriend denies setting boyfriend, lover ablaze… She denied guilt on two counts of murder and a charge of arson when her trial started before judge Claudia Claasen in April last year. …
Woman denies double murder and arson in Okahandja Park fire trial… Jonas Murao (45) was testifying in his defence before Windhoek High Court Judge Claudia Claasen yesterday. …
Alleged serial rapist denies charges… He denied guilt on all of the charges when his trial started before judge Claudia Claasen in June last year. …
Jonas Murao denies baby-rape charge with farm alibi as Hardap trial continues- August 2024
… After pleading not guilty to a charge of murder, read with the provisions of the Combating of Domestic Violence Act, Rodney Afrikaner (44) told judge Claudia Claasen he would not be giving a plea explanation to the court at the start of his trial. …
Man accused of scissors murder denies guilt
Society
Theodore Shipanga murder trial begins amid courtroom disruptions
The News
Theodore Shipanga, arrested in November 2011 for the murder of security colleague Shain van Wyk, appeared in Windhoek High Court as his trial commenced, with Judge Eileen Rakow warning him against disrupting proceedings or facing trial in his absence. Shipanga is accused of shooting van Wyk in the head during a cash-in-transit operation between Otjiwarongo and Okahandja, then absconding with N$2.5 million.
Why it matters
High-profile murder trial of a cash-in-transit security officer begins with immediate breaking news of courtroom disruptions and judicial warnings.
3 hours ago · Informanté →
Today
Theodore Shipanga murder trial begins amid courtroom disruptions
Theodore Shipanga, arrested in November 2011 for the murder of security colleague Shain van Wyk, appeared in Windhoek High Court as his trial commenced, with Judge Eileen Rakow warning him against disrupting proceedings or facing trial in his absence. Shipanga is accused of shooting van Wyk in the head during a cash-in-transit operation between Otjiwarongo and Okahandja, then absconding with N$2.5 million.
3 hours ago · Informanté →
Tuesday 21 April
Woman convicted of murdering two people in December 2022 arson
Mecthilde Karomo was found guilty on two murder charges and arson after setting fire to her boyfriend's house in Windhoek on 26 December 2022, killing Leonard Haupindi and Annastasia Matende. The judge found that Karomo, triggered by jealousy over Haupindi's new girlfriend, foresaw the possibility of death when she set the fire knowing they were inside or likely to be inside.
21 April 2026 · The Namibian →
Monday 20 April
Woman guilty of murdering boyfriend and his new lover
High Court Judge Claudia Claasen has found Mecthilde Karomo (33) guilty on two counts of murder with direct intent for killing her late boyfriend Leonard Haupindi (36) and his new lover Annastasia Matende (31) by setting the shack in which they were sleeping on fire on 26 December 2022 in Okahandja Park. Karomo was also found guilty on a charge of arson.
20 April 2026 · Informanté →
Tuesday 7 April
Mariental man acquitted of 2019 murder due to weak evidence
Windhoek High Court Judge Claudia Claasen acquitted Adam Isaack of murdering Eldin Fransman in 2019, finding the State's case rife with contradictions and unreliable witness testimony, with no eyewitnesses or forensic evidence linking him to the fatal stabbing. The judge noted that another State witness, Beneg Jossop, who owned the knife used in the killing, had provided inconsistent accounts of his location during the incident.
7 April 2026 · New Era →
Tuesday 17 March
Neighbour contradicts arson murder defendant's claim of fire damage
A neighbour testified in the trial of Mecthilde Karomo (33), accused of murdering her ex-boyfriend and his new lover by setting fire to his shack in Okahandja Park on 26 December 2022, stating he did not observe household items from Karomo's home burning despite her claims that the fire had affected her possessions.
17 March 2026 · Informanté →
Thursday 12 March
Woman denies arson in deaths of ex-boyfriend, his girlfriend
Iuze Mukube Mecthilde Karomo denies setting fire to a Windhoek shack in December 2022 that killed her ex-lover Leonard Haupindi Kadubuli and his girlfriend Anastasia Ihemba Matende. Testifying before the High Court, Karomo acknowledged a confrontation with Kadubuli the day before the fire but disputed threatening to burn the house and said she only learned of the deadly fire after hearing shouts from outside.
12 March 2026 · New Era →
Woman denies murder and arson in deadly Windhoek house fire trial
Mecthilde Karomo, accused of starting a fire in December 2022 that killed two people in Okahandja Park, Windhoek, testified that she was sleeping in her own house when the blaze occurred and denied setting the fatal fire. She disputed prosecution witnesses' claims that she confessed to the arson after a dispute with her then-boyfriend Leonard Haupindi.
12 March 2026 · The Namibian →
Thursday 5 March
Serial rape accused denies charges, claims alibi for incidents
Jonas Murao, 45, accused of nine charges including raping a four-month-old baby in Hoachanas, testified in his defence that he was not present when the alleged crimes occurred and was working at a settlement farm at the time. He denied all involvement and claimed an alibi for each incident dating back to 2008.
5 March 2026 · New Era →
Defendant denies baby rape charge; trial continues in Hardap case
Jonas Murao, accused of raping a four-month-old baby at Hoachanas in November 2016, claims he was at a farm on the date of the alleged assault. The baby's mother testified that she found her daughter without a nappy and with blood on her private parts after being awakened by her partner, and noted shoe prints in their one-room house that resembled sandals Murao was wearing that day.
5 March 2026 · The Namibian →