Controversial legal commentator and author, Brenda Wardle has been denied bail for a second time in the Port Elizabeth Commercial Crimes Court.
She faces charges of fraud, theft and contravening the Attorney’s Act after allegedly masquerading as a practising lawyer and defrauding a client of more than R500 000.
Wardle shot to fame as a Legal Analyst during Oscar Pistorius’ murder trial.
Wardle attempted to convince the court that being held in custody would infringe her constitutional right to a fair trial as she was representing herself in the matter.
She says by being kept in custody she would not be able to properly prepare due to a lack of resources, her business interests would suffer and that the state has no case against her.
Magistrate Lionel Lindoor held that these aspects are not valid and that she could not prove that the interests of justice necessitated her bail as she merely relied on affidavits of her lover, family and friends who would clearly favour her.
He said her history of failing to appear in court put her at risk of evading the trial.
The matter was remanded to the 18th of January for trial.
