NAJWA Petersen is sane enough to stand trial for the murder of her husband, Taliep, despite a history of mental treatment and suicide attempts.
The unanimous assessment by three psychiatrists and a psychologist paves the way for Najwa, 45, to face charges in the Cape High Court in February that she hired three hitmen to kill her legendary musician husband in December last year.
The doctors wrote in a report after Najwa spent 30 days under observation at Valkenberg mental hospital that she claimed to remember "vividly" what happened on the night of the murder, but refused, on legal advice, to give her version of events.
"However she vehemently denied any involvement," the report said. "Mrs Petersen impressed as an engaging and co-operative middle-aged woman... Her thoughts were clear, rational and logical."
The psychiatrists described her as being of "average intelligence".
The report was handed in to the Wynberg Regional Court on Friday. Magistrate Robert Henney ruled: "The accused is fit to stand trial, is capable of understanding proceedings and is able to mount a proper defence."
Two of the psychiatrists who compiled the report were also involved in assessing the sanity of paedophile Theunis Olivier, who was sentenced to life imprisonment earlier this month for murdering six-year-old Steven Siebert.
The doctors wrote of Najwa: "She is not mentally ill... She was able to appreciate the wrongfulness of the alleged offence."
According to evidence during her failed bail application, Najwa herself allegedly pulled the trigger to kill her husband while he lay bound and gagged on the floor of their home in Athlone, Cape Town.
Her lawyers had argued that she suffered from bipolar mood disorder and was a suicide risk, and should therefore be allowed out on bail to be with her family.
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