WESTERN Cape high court judges want nothing to do with the case against Thandi Maqubela - who is charged with murdering her husband, Cape Town acting judge Patrick Maqubela - Judge President John Hlophe said yesterday .
"None of us want anything to do with the Maqubela case," he said.
Judge Hlophe was speaking at the widow's final pre-trial conference. The trial was scheduled to start today but was postponed to October 10, at the request of Maqubela's newly appointed defence counsel Marius Broeksma.
Broeksma told the court he would launch a formal application for yet another postponement on October 10. He said Maqubela recently moved from Johannesburg to the Strand, near Cape Town, for the duration of her trial.
He said her bail conditions required her to report daily to the Strand police station, but this requirement cut short the time he had to consult with her.
Judge Hlophe told Broeksma that both applications, "for a further postponement and the relaxation of Maqubela's bail conditions", would have to be brought before Johannesburg Judge John Murphy, who has been seconded to preside in the case.
Senior state advocate Bonnie Currie-Gamwo told the court she would vigorously oppose Broeksma's application for a further postponement.
Currie-Gamwo said she had in fact stopped the inquiry into Maqubela's absence from proceedings last month so the trial could start today, and had reluctantly agreed to the further postponement to October 10.
Defence attorney Randal Titus, for Maqubela's co-accused Vela Mabena, told the court he was ready for trial.
Maqubela too 'hot' to handle for WC judges
WESTERN Cape high court judges want nothing to do with the case against Thandi Maqubela - who is charged with murdering her husband, Cape Town acting judge Patrick Maqubela - Judge President John Hlophe said yesterday .
"None of us want anything to do with the Maqubela case," he said.
Judge Hlophe was speaking at the widow's final pre-trial conference. The trial was scheduled to start today but was postponed to October 10, at the request of Maqubela's newly appointed defence counsel Marius Broeksma.
Broeksma told the court he would launch a formal application for yet another postponement on October 10. He said Maqubela recently moved from Johannesburg to the Strand, near Cape Town, for the duration of her trial.
He said her bail conditions required her to report daily to the Strand police station, but this requirement cut short the time he had to consult with her.
Judge Hlophe told Broeksma that both applications, "for a further postponement and the relaxation of Maqubela's bail conditions", would have to be brought before Johannesburg Judge John Murphy, who has been seconded to preside in the case.
Senior state advocate Bonnie Currie-Gamwo told the court she would vigorously oppose Broeksma's application for a further postponement.
Currie-Gamwo said she had in fact stopped the inquiry into Maqubela's absence from proceedings last month so the trial could start today, and had reluctantly agreed to the further postponement to October 10.
Defence attorney Randal Titus, for Maqubela's co-accused Vela Mabena, told the court he was ready for trial.
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