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Andi Maier. Foto Gravel Travel
Andi Maier. Foto Gravel Travel

Two found guilty in Andi Maier murder case

One accused also guilty of attempted rape
Nine years after his death, tour guide Andi Maier's two assailants have been found guilty of his murder.
Iréne-Mari van der Walt
Nine years after his murder, two men have been found guilty of the murder of respected tour guide Andi Maier, as well as the robbery and abduction of Maier and his girlfriend, with one of the men also being found guilty of attempted rape.

A third accused has been acquitted of all charges against him.

Walter Lwendo Lupalwezi and Ndozi Ndozi went to Mudumu National Park in the Zambezi Region in July 2015 and cut open the tent shared by Maier and his girlfriend.

They then robbed the couple and tied their hands behind their backs. The couple and the items they stole were then loaded into a vehicle. Lupalwezi and Ndozi drove until the car could no longer move through the dense forest. At this stage, Lupalwezi assaulted Maier's girlfriend and attempted to rape her.

Fatal assault

When Maier attempted to come to her rescue, both Lupalwezi and Ndozi stabbed him in the chest, stomach, thigh, and back. "After they severely stabbed the deceased, the accused unloaded the bags from the vehicle and left the scene," Oshakati High Court judge Herman January said during his ruling.

After the attackers had fled, Maier's girlfriend loaded him into the car to seek medical help.

"Unfortunately, the car got stuck in the sand, and the deceased succumbed to his injuries in the meantime," January's ruling stated.

The girlfriend, whose name has not been disclosed, testified in camera that Maier gave her directions to reach the tar road and that she kept talking to him throughout to assess his condition, but after five minutes, he no longer responded. She then waited until daybreak, wrapped a blanket around herself as her tracksuit pants were torn off during the struggle with Lupalwezi, and drove to the nearest police station to report the incident.

Lupalwezi and Ndozi were allegedly given a lift out of the park by the third accused, Harris Kamuhelo Sijiwa – who was acquitted – and dropped off near Katima Mulilo.

Dr Oladimeji Akeem Akinyeni conducted the post-mortem examination on Maier and testified during the trial that the most fatal wound penetrated Maier's left lung.

"[He] could have survived if they had received immediate medical attention," the court was told.

Police found a Victorinox knife and a sweater belonging to Maier's girlfriend in Lupalwezi's possession on Monday after the incident.

'Beloved tour guide'

The travel agency Gravel Travel described Maier on its website as their "most beloved tour guide" and "a fantastic Koakoland expert."

He was a member of the team for close to 20 years.

They added that he was passionate about creating "deeply unforgettable" journeys and experiences for his guests.

"He ran the outdoor camps on this route and conjured culinary delights to the table on an open fire, combined with his enthralling stories that remain in vivid memory. His experience and knowledge were incredible to have, and his love for nature and wildlife was a deep passion."

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Namibian Sun 2024-11-23

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