The State has closed its case in the trial of Thandi Maqubela - accused of killing her husband, Acting Judge Patrick Maqubela.
|||Cape Town - The State has closed its case in the trial of Thandi Maqubela - accused of killing her husband, Acting Judge Patrick Maqubela.
The widow and co-accused Vela Mabena are on trial before Judge John Murphy on charges of murder. Thandi Maqubela also faces charges of fraud and forgery.
On Tuesday, prosecutor Bonnie Currie-Gamwo told the court that the State had closed its case.
Judge Murphy said the matter would be adjourned to give the defence an opportunity to bring a 174 application, for discharge. The accused are entitled to apply under Section 174 of the Criminal Procedures Act to show there is not enough evidence to convict them.
The defence is to present its heads of argument on February 25 and the State is to respond by March 4.
The judge was found dead on his bed in his Bantry Bay flat on June 7, 2009.
The pathologist who performed the post-mortem could not confirm the cause of death. The defence says the judge died of natural causes. The hearing is to resume on March 7.
natasha.prince@inl.co.za
Cape Argus