/ 5 September 2007

Najwa Petersen fails in bail bid

The Cape High Court on Wednesday confirmed an earlier ruling to refuse bail for Najwa Petersen, who is charged with the murder of her celebrity husband, Taliep. Her appeal was launched before acting Judge John Whitehead.

The Cape High Court on Wednesday confirmed an earlier ruling to refuse bail for Najwa Petersen, who is charged with the murder of her celebrity husband, Taliep.

Her appeal was launched before acting Judge John Whitehead, who also refused her application to re-launch her appeal before a full bench of three judges.

Whitehead said he had no reason to believe there was any prospect of a full bench reaching a different conclusion.

He said he agreed also with Wynberg magistrate Robert Henney’s earlier conclusion that the evidence to be led at her trial comprised more than just one witness, as contended by Petersen’s defence team, advocate Craig Webster and attorney Norman Snitcher, at her bail hearing.

The judge said there were no compelling and exceptional circumstances justifying Petersen’s release on bail — not even her ongoing psychiatric condition and treatment, nor the inadequate treatment facilities at Pollsmoor Prison, nor the fact that she needed to be at home to care for her eight-year-old daughter.

Petersen is to go on trial in February for the murder, together with co-accused Abdoer Emjedi, Waheed Hasse and Jefferson Snyders. — Sapa