Maqubela hires new defence team

Cape Town 131107- Thandi Maqubela in the Cape Town High Court have been found guilty of killing her husband Judge Patrick Maqubela.Picture Cindy waxa.Reporter Natasha P

Cape Town 131107- Thandi Maqubela in the Cape Town High Court have been found guilty of killing her husband Judge Patrick Maqubela.Picture Cindy waxa.Reporter Natasha P

Published Feb 17, 2014

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Cape Town - Convicted killer Thandi Maqubela has hired a new defence team ahead of her sentencing, the Western Cape High Court heard on Monday.

The Legal Aid lawyer who defended her during her murder trial last year, Marius Broeksma, told the court a new lawyer had been appointed.

“It appears there have been some developments since we were last in court,” he told Judge John Murphy.

Maqubela was found guilty in November last year of killing her acting judge husband Patrick Maqubela on June 5, 2009. Defence lawyer Christiaan Bosman confirmed on Monday he would be taking over and asked for a postponement until Thursday.

He handed in a formal application for this postponement.

Murphy said he was satisfied the postponement should be granted in light of a new defence team.

Maqubela was poised, in a blue headscarf, pink suit and sunglasses.

She spent Christmas in jail after a failed bail application in December.

At the time, Murphy said death from natural causes or suicide was excluded primarily by her conduct, a plethora of lies and her persistence in “irrational subterfuge”, which was wholly incompatible with an innocent person.

She was also found guilty of forging her husband's will and committing fraud by causing potential prejudice to his estate.

On Monday, Murphy said the instructing attorney should give an undertaking that Maqubela would have sufficient funds to pay them until the conclusion of legal proceedings.

This undertaking would allow Legal Aid to terminate their mandate without prejudice to Maqubela.

Prosecutor Bonnie Currie-Gamwo told the court this was the third time Maqubela's sentencing had appeared on the court roll.

Murphy noted her concerns of further delays. - Sapa

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