Possible Maqubela died of natural causes - doctor

A PRETORIA pathologist says he does not exclude the possibility that Cape Town acting judge Patrick Maqubela may have died of natural causes.

Gert Saayman, chief pathologist at the University of Pretoria, was testifying at the trial of Thandi Maqubela, who is accused of killing her husband more than three years ago. The trial is being heard before Judge John Murphy in the Western Cape High Court.

Saayman said in his opinion he could not exclude the possibility that the cause of the judge's might have been due to natural causes.

Thandi also faces charges of fraud and forgery for allegedly altering her husband's will.

Saayman confirmed he received Cape Town pathologist Sipho Mfolozi's post morterm reports, several statements and other relevant documentation regarding Maqubela's death.

Asked by defence counsel Marius Broeksma what his opinion was on the cause of the judge's death, Saayman replied: "I am not in a position to exclude natural causes as the cause of his death." He also agreed with Mfolozi's findings.

Saayman added the there were signs of hypertension in some of Maqubela's organs.

"The liver showed that he was drinking alcohol. But it does not show that he had abused alcohol."

Saayman said he did not think that the judge was in excellent health prior to his death. The case was postponed to July 24 2013.