A woman who allegedly tried to hire a hitman to kill her husband will know in a few weeks whether her bail conditions will be changed.
Petina Coetzee, 44, appeared in the Wynberg Magistrates’ Court yesterday.
Last month, her husband Austin Coetzee, 67, appealed for the State to have her bail conditions relaxed and criminal charges dropped against his wife.
He told the court he wanted his wife back home because their kids were suffering.
Defence lawyer William Booth said an application for an amendment would be lodged.
“My client requests she be allowed back to her family home in Kenilworth and to make contact with her two minor children.”
Booth said the older child now had to take care of the younger one which interfered with his school work.
Booth said even Coetzee’s husband wanted her back in the interest of the children. He said Austin had written numerous letters asking for his wife to come home.
“The children are suffering, we can have the conditions monitored by feedback from the complainant and the investigating officer,” he said.
Yesterday arguments were heard on whether Coetzee’s bail conditions should be relaxed.
Prosecutors are set to prove Coetzee allegedly hired an employee to murder Austin last year.
She was caught during a sting operation in the parking lot of Lansdowne train station after handing over an undisclosed amount of money to a “hitman”.
She was charged with conspiracy to commit murder and released on R30 000 bail.
The couple has been married for nine years and share a three-year-old son.
The accused has two older sons, aged 16 and 20, who live at the family home in Kenilworth.
Coetzee’s lawyer, Asghar Mia, made an application to amend her bail conditions to allow her to return home.
The mother of three currently lives with relatives.
She runs a company that takes ID photos near Home Affairs in the city.
Bail judgement has been set for May 4.