The trial of Thandi Maqubela, accused of killing her husband Judge Patrick Maqubela, was postponed by the Western Cape High Court.
|||Cape Town - The trial of Thandi Maqubela, accused of killing her acting judge husband Patrick Maqubela, was postponed by the Western Cape High Court on Tuesday.
Marius Broeksma, for Maqubela, asked Judge John Murphy for more time to prepare argument on the amendment of her murder and forgery charges.
Maqubela and her co-accused Vela Mabena, both out on bail, were asked to return to court next Tuesday.
The two have pleaded not guilty to suffocating the acting judge with cling-wrap in his Sea Point, Cape Town, apartment on June 5, 2009.
Maqubela has also pleaded not guilty to forging her husband's signature on his will, and then fraudulently presenting it at the Johannesburg office of the Master of the High Court.
Last month, Murphy indicated he intended amending the charges on the indictment.
On the murder charge, he wanted to extend the cause of death by adding “or means unknown” to “suffocation with plastic”.
He said this was after the State previously conceded that it was unable to submit evidence regarding an alternative means of death.
Regarding Thandi Maqubela's alleged forgery of her husband's will, he wanted to amend the charge from “making of the signature” to “making of the will”.
Broeksma would present argument next week as to the prejudice his clients would suffer should the charges be amended.
The court heard the defence intended calling a witness next Wednesday.
Sapa