National
closing arguments to begin in Thandi Maqubela trial─── 07:18 Mon, 07 Oct 2013
Cape Town - The Western Cape High Court will hear closing arguments on Monday in the trial of Thandi Maqubela, accused of killing her husband, acting judge Patrick Maqubela.
Maqubela is charged with murder, forgery, and fraud. On the latter two charges she allegedly forged her deceased husband's signature on his will and fraudulently presented it at the Johannesburg office of the Master of the High Court.
Her co-accused and business associate Vela Mabena is charged only with murder. Both have pleaded not guilty before Judge John Murphy.
On August 26, Maqubela's brother Zuko Ndlebe was the final witness to testify for the defence before it closed its case.
The court ruled previously that the indictment be amended to "better serve" the proper administration of justice.
It would be changed to allege, in the alternative, that Maqubela's death was caused if not by strangulation, then by means unknown to the prosecution.
Maqubela's body was found in his luxury Bantry Bay apartment on June 6, 2009. The State alleges the judge was suffocated on his bed the previous day.
Maqubela is charged with murder, forgery, and fraud. On the latter two charges she allegedly forged her deceased husband's signature on his will and fraudulently presented it at the Johannesburg office of the Master of the High Court.
Her co-accused and business associate Vela Mabena is charged only with murder. Both have pleaded not guilty before Judge John Murphy.
On August 26, Maqubela's brother Zuko Ndlebe was the final witness to testify for the defence before it closed its case.
The court ruled previously that the indictment be amended to "better serve" the proper administration of justice.
It would be changed to allege, in the alternative, that Maqubela's death was caused if not by strangulation, then by means unknown to the prosecution.
Maqubela's body was found in his luxury Bantry Bay apartment on June 6, 2009. The State alleges the judge was suffocated on his bed the previous day.
Sapa
