Judge may have been killed

2009-06-09 10:07

Cape Town - The police are investigating the possibility that Western Cape High Court Acting Judge Patrick Maqubela was murdered, a spokesperson said on Tuesday.

"The inquest investigation into the death of Acting Judge Patrick Maqubela has been altered to a murder investigation as a preliminary post-mortem could not determine the exact cause of death," said Superintendent Andre Traut.

"A thorough investigation by Sea Point police revealed information and evidence which suggested that the angle of our investigations is directed to the possibility of a crime, and therefore the case docket has been changed to a murder investigation."

Traut said Maqubela's body was discovered at his Sea Point home at around 16:00 on Sunday after he failed to answer calls from concerned colleagues and family members.

"He was found by security personnel of his residential complex lying in bed under circumstances which have appeared that foul play was not a factor."

Initial diagnosis

An initial diagnosis by a state pathologist on the scene suggested that he had suffered a "severe heart attack" on Friday, said Traut.

"On Monday, a post-mortem was conducted which could not accurately determine the cause of death, as the procedure was hampered by the state of decomposition of the body and organs.

"The result of further post-mortem tests is now awaited, to shed light on the circumstances surrounding the death of Maqubela," said Traut.

Further police investigations of the scene of his death revealed the possibility of criminal activity.

"As yet, no suspects have been identified or arrested," said Traut.

Maqubela was hearing the City of Cape Town's application to evict refugees from the Bluewaters camp near Muizenberg, set up last year after the outbreak of xenophobic violence.

- SAPA