THE bail hearing of Wentzel Maasdorp, who stands accused of murdering his domestic partner, Delia Weimers-Maasdorp, was a sombre environment, with the deceased woman seeming to speak from the grave, as the State presented texts from her journal showcasing how she struggled to end her relationship with Wentzel Maasdorp, who she claimed in her diary stole her bank cards as well as money from her purse to buy drugs.
State Prosecutor Eric Naikaku also presented evidence of WhatsApp messages, provided by the State’s first witness, Raymond Lorenzo Maasdorp, the ex-husband of the deceased Weimers-Maasdorp, who is also a relative of Wentzel Maasdorp.
Raymond added that he separated from the deceased in 2022, due her addiction issues and that the deceased started dating his relative Wentzel in August 2023, after they met in Rehab.
The ex-husband testified that the murder accused, Wentzel, abused cocaine and stole from the deceased to feed his insatiable habit. In addition to this, he used the deceased’s phone a day after he allegedly killed her to extort money from those close to her by pretending to be her. The ex-husband thus labelled Wentzel Maasdorp as a conniving and remorseless man who should be denied bail for the safety of society.
“On 19 January 2024, Delia sent me this message,” Raymond said.
“I am a hot mess, I put Wentzel out this morning. I have been suspecting that he might be using again, but this was confirmed in the morning hours this morning. He took my car and my card while I was sleeping and withdrew N$100 four times, until 04:00 this morning. He also took N$200 from my wallet. He handed it over when he realised that the account was empty. The car was absolutely empty this morning, as is my bank account. So basically, he stole from me. I feel like such a fool…”
The ex-husband further testified that he had planned a trip to Bali with his two daughters as well as his brother and sister-in-law on 27 April 2024 and that he needed an affidavit from the deceased to travel with their two daughters. He further testified that the deceased hoped she would travel with them and was distraught that she could not join the trip due to her addiction issues and strained relationship with her ex-husband.
“On 26 April 2024, Friday morning, I called Delia’s number to finalise our travel plans. I cannot recall if the call went unanswered or if the phone was off… At 9:34, I sent via WhatsApp several photos of the statement she prepared in 2023 when our daughter travelled to South Africa,” Raymond said in his statement.
At 11:01 am on the same date, 26 April, Raymond received a text message from Delia which read: “Morning darling, sorry I did not call this morning, I overslept, and I am having a really rough morning. I can’t call now, but just a quick favour if you don’t mind. Can you perhaps help me with money to buy two new tyres for my car? I only saw this morning that my back tyres are completely done.”
The State Prosecutor questioned Wentzel Maasdorp if he was the one who had sent messages from the deceased’s phone, who had been murdered on 25 April 2024, to which he said, “no comment.”
On the same date, it is alleged that at 20:47, the ex-husband received a WhatsApp from the deceased’s phone again wherein she asked for N$500 from her ex-husband to pay a bill at a restaurant as she forgot her purse. The accused Wentzel was again questioned if he sent these texts from the deceased’s phone, to which he had no comment.
In addition to the WhatsApp messages, the court was presented with journal entries which date from January 2024 to the demise of Weimers-Maasdorp in 2024.
On 18 March 2024, the deceased wrote: “This situation with WM (Wentzel Maasdorp) is driving me crazy, he has completely depleted me. Stolen from me, put me down, and then tried to kill himself. No man, I have to pull myself up, I am surrendering. I am tired of this.”
Several other entries from 19 March to 9 April also showcased how the deceased struggled to end things.
On 4 April 2024, the deceased wrote, “Not doing too good, not feeling too good either. WM has to get out of my life. I have to stop drinking as well.” On 9 April, another entry read: “Am I really divorced? Denzel is losing his shit. Lord, when will my life fall into place?”
The State Prosecutor questioned Wentzel, noting that he testified yesterday that he had been helping out the deceased with her addiction issues, but that it appeared the troubles she had were in getting rid of him.
To this, Wentzel said, “no comment.”
On 24 April 2024, the day before her demise, the deceased wrote, “So glad I made the decision to block WM. I need peace, I need my stability. I need to be sober, accept surrender, one thing at a time,” while her final entry on 25 April read: “I am doing alright I suppose. Only one glass of wine yesterday. Going to the girls and seeing Raymond is the challenge. So sad about them going to Bali without me. But it is all part of the journey. Have to do this for me and for them.”
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