Maasdorp pleads not guilty to killing his girlfriend

A year and three months after Delia Weimers-Maasdorp’s body was discovered wrapped in blankets, her alleged killer this week denied any involvement in her death in the Windhoek Magistrate’s Court.Weimers-Maasdorp was an employee of the Namibian University of Science and Technology (NUST). Wentzel Maasdorp (40), who was in an on-again, off-again and reportedly volatile relationship with Weimers-Maasdorp, challenged the state to prove its case against him.He informed magistrate Monica Andjaba that he would not provide plea explanations despite claiming during one of his previous court appearances that he had planned to hand himself over to the police.Wentzel was arrested in Windhoek just days after he allegedly killed Weimers-Maasdorp in her flat.In addition to pleading not guilty to the charge of murder read with the provisions of the Domestic Violence Act, Wentzel also denied charges of theft of a motor vehicle. He further pleaded not guilty to a third charge of theft, in which he is accused of stealing a television and a cellphone.Andjaba subsequently postponed the matter to 30 October 2025, pending the Prosecutor General’s decision on whether the matter will proceed to trial based on the available evidence.The State alleges that after allegedly killing his girlfriend, Wentzel fled to Mariental, then returned to Windhoek, where he wrapped her body in a blanket. He is further accused of selling her television and mobile phone before driving to Katima Mulilo. According to the State, Wentzel abandoned the vehicle in Rundu and later returned to Windhoek, where he was arrested in the Southern Industrial Area on April 30, last year.Volatile romantic relationshipThe State opposed his bail and backed its decision by presenting entries from Weimers-Maasdorp’s journal, which revealed her struggles to end the relationship. In the diary, she accused Wentzel of stealing her bank cards and money from her purse to fund his drug habit.State Prosecutor Eric Naikaku also submitted WhatsApp messages provided by the State’s first witness, Ramon Maasdorp, the ex-husband of Weimers-Maasdorp and a relative of Wentzel. Ramon testified that he and Weimers-Maasdorp had separated in 2022 due to her struggles with addiction. He said she began a relationship with Wentzel in August 2023 after the two met in a rehabilitation centre.Ramon further accused Wentzel of being a cocaine addict who stole various items from Weimers-Maasdorp. According to Ramon, Wentzel once used her phone to impersonate her after her death in an attempt to extort money from her contacts. To further deter his chances of getting bail, Ramon informed the court that Wentzel was manipulative and unremorseful. He referenced a message she sent him on 19 January, saying, "I am a hot mess. I put Wentzel out this morning. I’ve suspected he was using again, and this morning confirmed it. "He took my car and card while I was asleep and withdrew N$100 four times — until 04:00. He also took N$200 from my wallet. He only returned it when he saw the account was empty. The car is empty, my account is empty — he basically stole from me. I feel like such a fool..."Ramon also told the court that he had been planning a trip to Bali with their two daughters and needed an affidavit from his ex-wife (Delia) to travel with them. He said she was distraught that she could not join the trip herself due to her addiction and their strained relationship.rita@nmh-hub.com.na

Maasdorp pleads not guilty to killing his girlfriend

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Namibian Sun 2025-08-19

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Maasdorp pleads not guilty to killing his girlfriend

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Namibian Sun 2025-08-19

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