An alleged fake lawyer, who provided legal analysis to news organisations for years, was back in the Port Elizabeth Commercial Crimes Court on Friday to complain that she did not have a single cell at prison and that her arrest was unlawful.
Brenda Wardle told the court that she intended to bring an urgent application before the Port Elizabeth High Court.
“When an arrest is unlawful, the sub detention is unlawful,” she said.
Wardle was meant to confirm on Friday whether or not she was trial ready, as she is conducting her own defence.
At her previous court appearance, she cited issues around ill health and that she was not receiving the correct dosage of medication while being incarcerated at prison, a problem which has since been rectified.
But at her latest court appearance on Friday, Wardle said she was entitled to a single cell which would make the environment conducive for her to prepare for trial.
“I wrote a letter to the State and I was going to challenge it based on a semi urgent application – I am entitled to a single cell. I know the minister of correctional services personally,” said Wardle.
Wardle shot to fame during the highly publicised murder trial of Paralympian Oscar Pistorius. She was interviewed on the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) and the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) TV as a legal analyst.
The 56-year old is accused of pretending to be a lawyer and offering “services” to a convicted murderer.
The State alleges that during April 2009 and August 2013, Wardle was paid R538,766 to assist jailed Stephanus van Aardt, who was requesting early release on parole.
The State alleges that Wardle pretended to be an attorney, but she failed to bring an application for Van Aardt’s early release.
Van Aardt, an Eastern Cape dairy farmer in Somerset East, who was convicted of murder in 2007 and sentenced to 12 years imprisonment for the assault and death of 15-year-old Eliot Magabane, was as a result not eligible to have his term of imprisonment converted.
The so-called legal analyst and an author was arrested in East London earlier in June after evading court for more than a year.
She was denied bail last month.
Magistrate Lionel Lindoor insisted that her trial needed to start.
“As far as I am concerned you are in lawful custody and you will have to take that up with another court, what we are here for today, we have to reach a stage where the trial has to start,” said Lindoor.
State Advocate Tjaart Van Zyl asked for a brief adjournment so that a single cell could be arranged for Wardle.
The case was postponed until September 11 for Wardle to indicate whether she is trial ready.
– African News Agency (ANA)
