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Tracey Adams
Nell-Marie Cooke, 30, outside the Worcester Magistrate's Court. It is alleged she conspired to kill her husband
Jade Witten
COURT REPORTER
A WORCESTER woman, alleged to have conspired with her gardener’s brother to kill her husband, has appeared in the Worcester Magistrate’s Court.
Nell-Marie Cooke, 30, dubbed the “White Widow” by the media, made a brief court appearance yesterday.
Prosecutor Xolani Ndozini told the court that Cooke had moved to Joburg after starting a new job there.
He told Magistrate Andre Le Fleur that the State had no objection if the bail condition that Cooke report to Worcester police station three times a week, be scrapped.
Cooke was arrested on February 7 after she allegedly hired her gardener’s brother – believed to be a gangster – to kill her husband, Maartin Cooke, 33, in November.
Her alleged plan was foiled when her husband and the father of her two children found a note in the post box that was addressed to her.
In the note, the hitman allegedly asked Cooke for money for the hit.
Cooke was arrested soon after the note was found and held in custody for about two weeks before she was released on R5 000 bail.
Yesterday, Philip Nieuwoudt withdrew as her lawyer and a new legal representative was appointed.
The lawyer, Asghar Mia, confirmed that Cooke had started a new job in Centurion, and added she would return to Worcester every second weekend.
Magistrate Andre Le Fleur had no objection to removing the signing condition yesterday.
Cooke now no longer needs to sign at the police station every Monday, Wednesday and Friday between 6am and 8pm.
Ndozini said yesterday that the police’s investigation was complete and that the case could be postponed to obtain a regional court date before the case goes to trial. Cooke is due back in court on June 11.
jade.witten@inl.co.za
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