Pollsmoor tough on judge's widow

Pollsmoor has traumatised the well-manicured Sandton widow of slain Judge Patrick Maqubela, according to her lawyer.

Now Thandi Sheryl Maqubela - who has been charged with killing her husband at his Sea Point flat in 2009 - has been moved from the notorious prison, where she was held for 15 days.

On Friday she was locked up at Sea Point police station, a stone's throw from the upmarket flat where her husband was found dead in his bed.

On Friday the snappily dressed former businesswoman appeared in the High Court in Cape Town, where her lawyer, Advocate Phillip Higgo, argued that she was so traumatised at Pollsmoor that it would be "extremely prejudicial" for her to stay there.

Maqubela landed in hot water after allegedly flouting her bail conditions by not appearing in court on July 25. She also failed to alert her legal representatives of her whereabouts.

Judge John Murphy is yet to decide whether her bail should be revoked.

Higgo also told the court he would have to resign as her lawyer because she could not afford to pay him.

She may have to rely on legal aid.

Judge Murphy granted her until Wednesday to weigh up her options and decide whether to accept the services of a state-funded lawyer.

The Legal Aid Board has represented her before, but withdrew from the case.

Judge Maqubela's body was found in his bed, a pillow over his face and a sheet covering his body.

His wife was removed as the executor of his multimillion-rand estate after she was arrested nine months later for his alleged murder and for allegedly trying to defraud the estate.

Dr Geraldine Kirby, the clinical manager of Helen Joseph hospital where Maqubela was said to have been booked to be treated for an undisclosed illness, and investigating officer Reynold Talmakies will testify this week.