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Saturday, 1 August 2026
Namibia’s news, on the hour · Est. 2026
Saturday, 1 August 2026
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Namibian press · Person

Judge Claudia Claasen

Judge hearing high-profile murder cases in Windhoek High Court, including sentencing Mecthilde Karomo to 35 years for arson deaths.

2024-05-132026-08-01

What’s been said

Key points drawn from coverage. Tap a point to see the original sentence.

  1. August 2026
  2. Namibian Sun

    Judge Claudia Claasen sentenced Bock to 15 years in prison

    Source

    The judge sentenced Bock to 15 years in prison.

    The tragedy of two young lives derailed
  3. July 2026
  4. The Namibian

    Judge Claudia Claasen dismissed application after finding government already considering new cannabis legislation

    Source

    Judge Claudia Claasen dismissed the application after finding the government is already considering new legislation on cannabis, making it premature for the court to intervene.

    Dagga group’s high hopes not up in smoke yet
  5. June 2026
  6. The Namibian

    Judge Claudia Claasen decided to step down from the trial in November last year

    Source

    Claasen decided to step down from the trial in November last year, after Shipanga had been ordered to undergo a period of psychiatric evaluation.

    Guard accused of B1 murder disrupts court
  7. The Namibian

    Judge Claudia Claasen decided to recuse herself from his trial after a psychiatrist included inappropriate extracts in a report

    Source

    Claasen decided to recuse herself from his trial after a psychiatrist who completed a report on his mental state included extracts from witness statements that were not yet part of the evidence before the court in the report to the court.

    Guard accused of B1 murder disrupts court
  8. Informanté

    Judge Claudia Claasen presided over Venonja's trial

    Source

    IMMANUEL Venonja, a 25-year-old man accused of stabbing his girlfriend to death, started his trial in the Windhoek High Court today and pleaded not guilty before Judge Claudia Claasen.

    Man accused of murdering girlfriend in Otavi denies guilt
  9. The Namibian

    Judge Claudia Claasen sentenced Mecthilde Karomo to 35 years' imprisonment

    Source

    Judge Claudia Claasen made the remark before sentencing Mecthilde Karomo (34) to an effective period of 35 years' imprisonment.

    35 years in prison for woman on murder, arson charges
  10. May 2026
  11. Informanté

    Judge Claudia Claasen sentenced Karomo to 32 years on each of two murder counts and 3 years on arson

    Source

    Judge Claudia Claasen sentenced Karomo to 32 years' imprisonment on each of two counts of murder and ordered that those sentences be served concurrently.

    Karomo sentenced to 35 years for killing ex-boyfriend and partner
  12. The Namibian

    Judge Claudia Claasen sentenced Karomo to 32 years on each murder count, concurrent, and 3 years on arson

    Source

    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.

    Windhoek woman gets 35 years in prison on murder, arson charges
  13. August 2024
  14. The Namibian

    Judge Claudia Claasen described the crime as brutal and barbaric during sentencing

    Source

    Judge Claudia Claasen said this during the killer's sentencing in the Windhoek High Court on Friday.

    Sheep-shears murder was barbaric, judge says
  15. The Namibian

    Judge Claudia Claasen sentenced Shaun Tieties to 33 years in prison

    Source

    Judge Claudia Claasen sentenced Shaun Tieties (39) in the Windhoek High Court, where he admitted guilt on counts of murder, assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm and attempting to obstruct the course of justice four weeks ago.

    Hardap killer sentenced to 33 years in prison
Society

Two young lives shaped by poverty and ended in tragedy

The News

The Namibian Sun reports on the backgrounds of Johannes Bock (21) and Sara Jonker, two young people from Gochas whose lives were marked by poverty, broken education, and limited opportunity before their circumstances ended in tragedy. Both grew up in challenging conditions—Jonker left school in Grade 6 unable to afford a uniform and took on household duties after her grandmother's death, while Bock attended school for only a month before joining his father in farm work—and both had been drinking on the day their lives changed forever.

10 hours ago · Namibian Sun

Today

  1. Two young lives shaped by poverty and ended in tragedy

    The Namibian Sun reports on the backgrounds of Johannes Bock (21) and Sara Jonker, two young people from Gochas whose lives were marked by poverty, broken education, and limited opportunity before their circumstances ended in tragedy. Both grew up in challenging conditions—Jonker left school in Grade 6 unable to afford a uniform and took on household duties after her grandmother's death, while Bock attended school for only a month before joining his father in farm work—and both had been drinking on the day their lives changed forever.

    10 hours ago · Namibian Sun

Sunday 19 July

  1. High Court dismisses bid to legalise cannabis in Namibia

    The Windhoek High Court dismissed an application by the Ganja Users of Namibia to legalise cannabis, ruling that ongoing government legislative reviews make judicial intervention premature. The group says it will intensify efforts to push for cannabis law reform and hold the government accountable to its commitment to review the cannabis laws.

    19 July 2026 · The Namibian

Tuesday 9 June

  1. Guard accused of B1 murder disrupts own trial in Windhoek High Court

    A former security guard accused of robbing and murdering a colleague while transporting cash was removed from a Windhoek High Court trial after repeatedly disrupting proceedings by claiming he was not charged and that his rights were violated. The judge recorded pleas of not guilty on his behalf in his absence.

    9 June 2026 · The Namibian

Tuesday 2 June

  1. Man accused of stabbing girlfriend denies guilt in trial

    Immanuel Venonja, 25, pleaded not guilty in the Windhoek High Court to the murder of Elisabeth Uwu-Khaes, whom he allegedly stabbed in the back at a bar in Otavi on 31 May 2024. Uwu-Khaes died from her injuries on 1 June 2024; the state alleges Venonja also prevented bystanders from taking her for medical help.

    2 June 2026 · Informanté

Monday 1 June

  1. Woman sentenced to 35 years for murdering two in Windhoek house fire

    Mecthilde Karomo was sentenced to 35 years' imprisonment after being convicted of murdering her boyfriend Leonard Haupindi and Anastasia Matende by setting Haupindi's house on fire in Okahandja Park, Windhoek on 26 December 2022. The judge noted Karomo acted with "utter indifference" after starting the deadly blaze, driven by anger and jealousy.

    1 June 2026 · The Namibian

Friday 29 May

  1. Woman sentenced to 35 years for double murder by arson

    Mecthilde Karomo (34) was sentenced in the Windhoek High Court to 35 years in prison for the murder of her ex-boyfriend Leonard Haupindi (36) and his new partner Anastasia Matende (31) after she set Haupindi's house on fire on 26 December 2022. Karomo was sentenced to 32 years on each of two counts of murder to be served concurrently, plus three years for arson.

    29 May 2026 · Informanté

  2. Windhoek woman sentenced to 35 years for murder by arson

    Mecthilde Karomo, 34, was sentenced to an effective 35 years' imprisonment after being convicted of murdering two people by setting a house on fire in Windhoek on 26 December 2022. Judge Claudia Claasen imposed 32 years on each of two murder counts (served concurrently) and three years for arson.

    29 May 2026 · The Namibian

Judge Claudia Claasen — Namibian press coverage · Namibia Minute