Maqubela acquittal application dismissed
2013-03-07 17:34
Cape Town - The Western Cape High Court in Cape Town dismissed
an application on Thursday for the acquittal of Thandi Maqubela, who is on
trial for the alleged murder of her husband, acting judge Patrick Maqubela.
The application was based on the grounds that the State
had not made out a prima facie case against her and she, therefore, had no case
to meet.
Judge John Murphy ruled the State had in fact made out a
case against her.
The State alleges Maqubela and her co-accused Vela Mabena
suffocated Maqubela with cling-wrap in his Sea Point, Cape Town, flat on 5 June
2009.
The widow then allegedly forged her dead husband's
signature on a counterfeit will.
Maqubela and Mabena have both pleaded not guilty to
charges of murder, fraud and forgery.
The defence claims the judge died of natural causes.
The case was postponed to 13 October.
- SAPA
