Accused wife keen to contact husband she 'wanted dead'

The Cape Town woman accused of conspiring to murder her husband has asked the court to relax bail conditions which state that she is not allowed to contact him.

Petina Coetzee (44) was arrested during a sting operation by the Hawks in November last year when she allegedly tried to pay a hitman to kill her 66-year-old husband Austin Coetzee.

The National Prosecuting Authority told the Wynberg Magistrate Court on Tuesday they would would oppose this amendment because her husband is a key state witness.

They fear she could interfere with the state's investigation and influence the witness.

She was released on R30‚000 bail last year and besides not being allowed to leave Elsiesriver she also has to report to her local police station twice a day between 8am and 8pm.

She is expected to appear again on 30 March.

Shortly after her arrest family their attorney‚ Geoff Carter‚ said: "As far as I'm concerned‚ they had a very good marriage".

- TMG Digital/TimesLIVE