There were more than 50 new facts that comprise exceptional and substantial circumstances justifying Najwa Petersen's release on bail, it was contended in the Wynberg regional court in Cape Town yesterday.

There were more than 50 new facts that comprise exceptional and substantial circumstances justifying Najwa Petersen's release on bail, it was contended in the Wynberg regional court in Cape Town yesterday.

Petersen's defence team, senior counsel Herbert Raubenheimer and attorney John Riley, said the case presented to the court in Petersen's second bail application outweighed the case presented by prosecutor Shireen Riley.

Petersen is in custody and faces trial for the alleged murder of her famous entertainer husband, Taliep, in December last year.

Raubenheimer said the first application was refused because the court was convinced that Petersen was a high suicide risk. He urged the court: "Don't crucify Petersen because of the fact presented in the first application."

He told magistrate Robert Henney that his judgment in the first application was correct, but was based on what was then placed before the court. - Sapa