Thandi Maqubela cleared, but judge's son has doubts

Appeal court scraps murder verdict against 'black widow'

01 October 2017 - 00:02 By PHILANI NOMBEMBE

Acting judge Patrick Maqubela's son still believes his father was murdered, despite an appeal court ruling this week that cleared his stepmother of the crime.
In 2015, the High Court in Cape Town convicted the judge's estranged wife, Thandi, of murder and jailed her for 15 years.
But on Friday the Supreme Court of Appeal overturned her conviction, finding that Maqubela might have died of natural causes instead of being suffocated by cling wrap.
Maqubela's son from a previous marriage, Duma, was devastated by the court's decision. "It doesn't change the fact that my old man is no longer here, but he woke up alive that morning," he said.
"He didn't suddenly suffer a heart attack and die and wrap himself in a bed sheet, cover his face with a pillow and wear a tracksuit on top of a suit. Someone did that. But if the law ignores all of that, it just proves that we have challenges...

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