‘Fake lawyer’ to face fraud charge

An alleged fake lawyer, who spun legal analysis for news organisations for years, will be prosecuted for fraud involving more than R500 000. Brenda Wardle, pictured, was denied bail in the Port Elizabeth Commercial Crimes Court.

A so-called legal analyst and author, Wardle, 56, was arrested in East London earlier in June after evading court for more than a year.

Wardle shot to fame when she provided international legal analysis on the murder trial of Paralympian Oscar Pistorius. She appeared on SABC and BBC television providing legal analysis to viewers.

On her Facebook profile, she boasts that she wrote a number of books on court cases, which include British businessperson Shrien Dewani, the legal trials and tribulations of President Jacob Zuma, as well as a book on the state versus Czech fugitive Radovan Krejcir and the state’s case against Pistorius.

Wardle is charged for allegedly pretending to be a lawyer and offering her “services” to a convicted murderer.

According to the state, during April 2009 and August 2013, Wardle was paid R538 766 to assist Stephanus van Aardt for his early release on parole.

The state alleges that Wardle pretended to be an attorney and could not bring an application for Van Aardt’s early release.

Van Aardt, an Eastern Cape dairy farmer in Somerset East, was further not eligible to have his term of imprisonment converted.

In 2007, Van Aardt was convicted of murder and sentenced to 12 years imprisonment for the assault and death of a 15-year-old.

Wardle who is conducting her own defence, has a previous conviction of fraud. state prosecutor Tjaart van Zyl opposed bail, based on Wardle evading court appearances for other similar cases. The case was postponed until July 27. – ANA