South Africa - Susan Rohde, 47, murdered, Stellenbosch, 24 July 2016

[JudgeJudi]

A little more on the financial side:

At the initial bail application …

Rohde submitted various details about his finances in the affidavit, revealing he earned R110,000 per month and received R45,000 monthly for a business he started, as well as R180,000 per year in dividends.

It also emerged that the family home was in Susan’s name. The home was worth R9.5 million, and had an outstanding payment of R2.5 million, but Rohde claimed he was responsible for paying the instalments.

They also own a holiday home valued at R2.2 million.

Rohde owes the bank R1 million on a BMW in his name. There was also R425,000 outstanding on Susan’s Mercedes which was registered in her name.

He has a bank account in Australia with R161,137 (AUD 15,000) in it. He also says he owns several entities in trust accounts and properties worth more than R20 million.

http://www.news24.com/You/Archive/m...isk-jason-rohde-reveals-in-affidavit-20170728

 

[JudgeJudi]

The Magistrate’s Court heard that the State’s pathologist believes Susan died around 5.40am on July 24, 2016.

These findings contradict what Rohde and his defence team insist happened – that Susan committed suicide by hanging herself after 7am that morning.

During fierce argument in the courtroom, the State remained adamant it had a prima facie case against Rohde. But his lawyer, Pete Mihalik, was equally firm the State had failed to provide evidence to back up its murder theory.

[url]http://tellitallsa.co.za/chilling-evidence-emerges-on-rohde-murder-case/[/URL]

Other info in the article including the usual perpetrator is now the victim.

 

[JudgeJudi]

The following document is the State's reply to Rohde's plea explanation.

The most significant paragraphs are 14 and 16 on p.3.

https://twitter.com/hashtag/jasonrohde?lang=en

 

[bleuboy]

Judgejudi thankyou very very much for all that Info. Its really interesting, I was in another thread and heard you was covering this trial so wanted to catch up. Again thanks for taking so much time to do that, you are very kind. *advertiser censored*

 

[JudgeJudi]

Dr. Akmal Coetzee-Khan to continue his evidence-in-chief today

Mobile reception issues in court. Tweets may be delayed

Khan notes that Perumal's report omits the fact that Susan's organs, including spleen and pancreas showed signs of asphyxia

Also, that the muscles around her spine were damaged

Khan questions whether photographs were taken during 2nd autopsy. He says it's NB if his findings are to be challenged

https://twitter.com/LA_JANSEN

 

[JudgeJudi]

Khan: in my opinion Dr. Perumal's report, there are some differences between 1st & 2nd autopsy, which are crucial

[Apparently Perumal was writing furiously when Khan was last testifying and criticising Perumal's report]

These incl haemorrhages in the neck & thyroid cartilage fracture. These are NB to differentiate btw Ligature & manual strangulation

Khan: Usually with 2nd autopsy in case of bloodless neck transaction, it's NB for the pathologist to view pics of the dissection

Khan: This is not the case here. As far as I'm aware the pics weren't available at the time of his autopsy

Khan concludes that the haemorrhages seen in the neck are geographically different to where the ligature was placed

https://twitter.com/LA_JANSEN

 

[JudgeJudi]

Khan says these features were missed/overlooked in the 2nd autopsy and would definitely affect the cause of death Perumal cited

Khan: There were other aspects left out like blood present in stomach and intestines.

Khan: There's been no interpretation of wounds to the left hand as possible defence wounds

Khan: These are critical findings because we don't find these in suicide hanging cases

Khan: I would really be concerned of the impartiality of this report in terms of giving expert testimony to the court

https://twitter.com/LA_JANSEN

 

[JudgeJudi]

Van Niekerk refers to Thompson's testimony, stating that the body was cold. Defence objects.

Judge allows Khan to comment.

He says pathologists would generally touch exposed areas to give possible range of time of death.

Khan: There will still be warmth close to time of death. Even a lay person will be able to pick up whether body is cold/not.

Khan: Usually takes about two to four hours for the body temperature to change after death.

https://twitter.com/LA_JANSEN

 

[JudgeJudi]

Van Niekerk refers to the huge bruise on Susan's right inner thigh.

Evidence will be led that the injury was caused shortly before the death where Susan did a hand stand & fell onto a dumbbell.

Khan says it's possible

Van Niekerk refers to Khan's testimony of battered-wife syndrome

Information received by the defence this weekend is that Susan & her mom are diagnosed with thin skin that bruises easily

Khan says it will be interesting to see dr.'s diagnosis.During dissection, there was no evidence of bleeding/bruising tendency

Khan concludes his evidence-in-chief

https://twitter.com/LA_JANSEN

 

[JudgeJudi]

Judge refers Khan to Rohde's plea explanation. He says he admits he and Susan had a fight, verbal & physical.

Judge says it'll be interesting to hear Khan's point of view

Khan says the admissions don't explain the bruise to the neck, knuckles and wrist

Khan: The lack of specificity makes it difficult. Injuries to. Toe and mouth also not explained in the admission

Defence says it needs enough time to get proper direction from the expert.

Case postponed to 13:30 on Wednesday

https://twitter.com/LA_JANSEN

 

[bleuboy]

It seems every trial in south Africa takes twice as long as trials held anywhere else. Lots of really short days, adjournments and postponements. Thanks JJ for the tweets and updates.x

 

[PrimeSuspect]

Khan says these features were missed/overlooked in the 2nd autopsy and would definitely affect the cause of death Perumal cited

Khan: There were other aspects left out like blood present in stomach and intestines.

Khan: There's been no interpretation of wounds to the left hand as possible defence wounds

Khan: These are critical findings because we don't find these in suicide hanging cases

Khan: I would really be concerned of the impartiality of this report in terms of giving expert testimony to the court

https://twitter.com/LA_JANSEN

Looking bad for Perumal. It appears by the tweets the defence aren't objecting to Khan's findings, he's certainly not afraid to air his opinion of Perumal's work and apparent incompetence. Could it have been negligence or something more sinister?

 

[JudgeJudi]

Somehow I managed to improperly load the Plea Explanation and have asked one of the mods to delete the post. This document is 12 pages long so it will need to be done in 3 parts.

[URL]https://twitter.com/LA_JANSEN?lang=en[/URL]

Part 1

 

[JudgeJudi]

https://twitter.com/LA_JANSEN?lang=en

Part 2

 

[JudgeJudi]

https://twitter.com/LA_JANSEN?lang=en

Part 3

 

[JudgeJudi]

Murder accused millionaire Jason Rohde does not want his three daughters to attend court proceedings in Cape Town‚ where he is on trial for allegedly murdering their mother‚ his wife Susan.

Besides his five-man legal team‚ the former Geffen International Realty Franchises CEO has not had any supporters in court since his trial started on Monday.

[url]https://www.timeslive.co.za/news/south-africa/2017-10-11-rohde-wants-to-keep-daughters-away-from-murder-trial-says-lawyer/[/URL]

 

[JudgeJudi]

Three brief videos by Anthony Molyneaux

[url]http://www.sowetanlive.co.za/news/2017/10/11/rohde-wants-to-keep-daughters-away-from-murder-trial-says-lawyer[/URL]

 

[Trooper]

a quick thanks, Judi, for all the work you put in here.. I have been following this case, made so much easier because of the hard yakka you put in.. ..

Perumal... he is the defence pet expert, he is paid for his testimony, while this doesn't take away from his undoubted expertise, or tarnish his credentials, as yet, it means he is on the stand to put forward a defence position, which means , like all defence experts, leaving some stuff out. The Adversarial Process of S.A. trials.. like our own, like the USA, like the UK , but not like the French, means this is how it is..

She was so light. so thin. I reckon he throttled her, then he hung her from that door. He'd had enough. .

 

[PrimeSuspect]

a quick thanks, Judi, for all the work you put in here.. I have been following this case, made so much easier because of the hard yakka you put in.. ..

Perumal... he is the defence pet expert, he is paid for his testimony, while this doesn't take away from his undoubted expertise, or tarnish his credentials, as yet, it means he is on the stand to put forward a defence position, which means , like all defence experts, leaving some stuff out. The Adversarial Process of S.A. trials.. like our own, like the USA, like the UK , but not like the French, means this is how it is..

She was so light. so thin. I reckon he throttled her, then he hung her from that door. He'd had enough. .

Welcome back and to this thread,Trooper!

This trial is going well so far, everything is pointing to JR killing Susan and staging a suicide, his mistress being at the Hotel must have put him under extreme strain. Much like Toni giving GBC an ultimatum due to the conference both she and Allison were to attend.

These types of men just back themselves into a corner and a woman HAS to die, usually the wife/partner, on rarer occasions, the mistress.
Susan should be alive, her 3 daughters should have their mother. JR thought of no one but himself.

 

[JudgeJudi]

a quick thanks, Judi, for all the work you put in here.. I have been following this case, made so much easier because of the hard yakka you put in.. ..

Perumal... he is the defence pet expert, he is paid for his testimony, while this doesn't take away from his undoubted expertise, or tarnish his credentials, as yet, it means he is on the stand to put forward a defence position, which means , like all defence experts, leaving some stuff out. The Adversarial Process of S.A. trials.. like our own, like the USA, like the UK , but not like the French, means this is how it is..

She was so light. so thin. I reckon he throttled her, then he hung her from that door. He'd had enough. .

G'day Trooper. I haven't seen you since the OP days. Did you know the State's appeal against sentence is on Friday, 3 November? They want 15 years.