A Windhoek resident arrested in connection with the death of a woman whose body was found in her flat on Sunday was ordered to remain in custody after making a first appearance in the Windhoek Magistrate’s Court yesterday.
Wentzel Maasdorp (39) appeared before magistrate Mutafela Muharukua on a charge of murder, read with the provisions of the Combating of Domestic Violence Act, and two counts of theft.
The state is alleging that Maasdorp murdered Delia Weimers-Maasdorp (40) in her flat in Klein Windhoek between 25 and 28 April, and stole a BMW vehicle, television and Apple iPhone belonging to her.
National police spokesperson deputy commissioner Kauna Shikwambi on Wednesday said Weimers-Maasdorp, whose body was found wrapped in a blanket, had been strangled.
She and Maasdorp had been involved in a relationship, Shikwambi said as well.
During Maasdorp’s court appearance, public prosecutor Bernadine Bertolini informed the magistrate that the state opposed the granting of bail to him due to the seriousness of the charges against him, fears that he would try to flee if released on bail, because the investigation of the case is still in an early stage, and that it would not be in the interest of justice to grant him bail.
The case was postponed to 21 August for further investigation.
The magistrate ordered that in the meantime Maasdorp should be held in custody at Windhoek Correctional Facility.
Maasdorp, who was represented by defence lawyer Milton Engelbrecht yesterday, is expected to apply for legal aid before his next court appearance.
He was arrested in Windhoek on Tuesday, after he allegedly abandoned Weimers-Maasdorp’s vehicle at a service station at Rundu.
He was also spotted at Otjiwarongo on Tuesday before his arrest.
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