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

[Soekie]

The youtube link shows Rhode getting arrested today

 

[ApplesInMyBra]

Rohde suffers from major depressive disorder, court hears

https://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/...ajor-depressive-disorder-court-hears-20180207

 

[tmar]

Rohde suffers from major depressive disorder, court hears

https://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/...ajor-depressive-disorder-court-hears-20180207

I was involved in a trial recently, being the victim.
The accused used 'major depressive disorder', delaying the trial on several occasions:
producing Medical Certificates, and Psychiatric Reports.
Finally, after > than 3 years, these tactics no longer worked for him.
He LOST!!!!!
His LIES did not work. :loveyou::loveyou:

 

[tmar]

I hope this 'major depressive disorder' does not delay the trial for several months.
It may be stated, that the accused requires long term treatment, and is not capable in 'functioning' in trial proceedings.

 

[tmar]

The delayed trial is to return today!

 

[Tortoise]

[FONT=&quot]Most of Jason [/FONT]#Rohde[FONT=&quot]'s legal team has withdrawn from his case, bar one lawyer Adv Van der Spuy, due to finances and conflict of interest. Instruction terminated on 14 Feb

https://twitter.com/TeamNews24
[/FONT]

 

[Tortoise]

His defence team was initially made up of advocate Graham Van der Spuy, Mihalik, advocate Ross McKernan, attorney Daniel Witz and attorney Stacey Webb.

Mihalik thanked Judge Gayaat Salie-Hlophe for her handling of the matter so far and left the courtroom along with the rest of the team who withdrew.

Only Van der Spuy and one attorney remained.

Before leaving, Mihalik told Salie-Hlophe that certain admissions had been made, but had not been signed off.

He did not provide further details, other than to say that there was also a "privilege" issue which made his continued defence of Rohde no longer possible.
"If we proceed we will be in breach of our duty toward our client and, as such we have no option but to humbly request this honourable court to permit ourselves to withdraw."

Van Der Spuy asked Salie-Hlophe for a postponement so that he could get up to speed with the case and deal with the "admissions".

After a short adjournment for a private discussion between the judge, prosecutor Louis Van Niekerk and Van der Spuy, the court postponed the case to 12:00 on February 27.

https://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/News/jason-rohde-cuts-costs-reduces-his-legal-team-20180221

bbm

 

[tmar]

https://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/News/jason-rohde-cuts-costs-reduces-his-legal-team-20180221

bbm

Thanks Tortoise.
'Privilege issue', 'deal with the admissions': wonder what this means?

 

[Tortoise]

Thanks Tortoise.
'Privilege issue', 'deal with the admissions': wonder what this means?

Well I'm wondering if he confessed.

 

[tmar]

Well I'm wondering if he confessed.

And Tortoise, "Conflict of Interest".
Perhaps this is real reason why Attorneys and experts have left.
Could Rohde have confessed during 'Major Depressive Disorder', therefore 'conflict of interest' for Attorneys etc?
If confessed, Rohde felt they were not required to dig up more evidence.
Perhaps, 'conflict of interest', relates to other matters.
We must wait to hear more.

 

[tmar]

CONCURRENT CLIENT CONFLICT OF INTEREST FORMER CLIENT CONFLICT OF INTEREST LAWYER AS WITNESS
Disqualifying Criminal Defense Counsel

January 29, 2015

[FONT=&amp]In criminal cases, a lawyer is typically in jeopardy of disqualification in the following four ethical dilemmas:(1) when the lawyer represents two or more codefendants (a concurrent client conflict of interest);[1](2) when the lawyer represents a prosecution witness or has previously represented a prosecution witness in the same or a related matter (a concurrent or former client conflict of interest);[2](3) when the lawyer has previously represented the government in the matter or has otherwise obtained helpful confidential information while working for the government (a former client conflict of interest);[3] and(4) when the lawyer will be a necessary witness in the trial (a lawyer-as-witness role conflict).[4]These are the most common situations,[5] although disqualification issues arise in many other situations. For example, the lawyer might also face disqualification: when the lawyer is implicated in criminal or professional misconduct in the matter;[6] when the lawyer’s financial interests strongly conflict with the defendant’s interests;[7] or when the lawyer has entered into a joint defense agreement (JDA) with another defendant, who then turns state’s evidence and against whom the lawyer may not use the information learned through the JDA to cross-examine her.[8]
[url]https://dqed.com/category/concurrent-client-conflict-of-interest/

[/URL][/FONT]
​

As Rohde's ex girlfriend may
be a state witness, I wonder if this could be the 'conflict of interest'.

 

[ApplesInMyBra]

Rohde case: 'Not enough blood found to prove violence at death scene'

https://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/...und-to-prove-violence-at-death-scene-20180227

 

[JudgeJudi]

Financial constraints have forced Jason Rohde to trim his legal team.

Advocate Pete Mihalik told the High Court that on February 14 Rohde terminated his mandate and those of of Ross McKernan and Stacy Webb.

Mihalik said Rohde’s financial situation allowed him to retain only advocate Graham van der Spuy and to pay experts’ costs. “In fact‚ it means that we have no instruction to continue‚” he said.

“We find ourselves in a position where the interests of our client can no longer be served. If we proceed‚ we will be in breach of our duty towards our client. And as such we have no choice but to humbly submit to this court to [recuse us].

“We are advised that advocate Van der Spuy is ready to proceed with matter. There will be no delays.”

The Judge recused the three and they left court immediately.

The case was adjourned until Tuesday to allow Van der Spuy to familiarise himself with the case‚ and for the defence and prosecution to “have certain admissions made available”.

[url]http://www.heraldlive.co.za/news/2018/02/21/cash-strapped-jason-rohde-fires-three-four-lawyers/[/URL]

 

[JudgeJudi]

The trial of Jason #Rohde for the alleged murder of his wife Susan continues in the Western Cape High Court today. In the stand is Capt Marius Joubert, a crime scene forensic expert and blood spatter analyst with 26 years' experience

Joubert was among the investigators and specialists who arrived at room 221 at Spier where Susan #Rohde was found dead on 24 July 2016. On his to-do list was to get clothes from her husband Jason, and to have him examined

Joubert's 24-page statement on his #Rohde analysis with pics and sketch were handed up for the court

The court is going through pictures of Susan #Rohde and other evidence collected by forensic expert Capt Joubert to mark them for the court record. Before that said some of Jason #Rohde's blood was found on bedding in Spier hotel room

Jason #Rohde's legal team has been pared down significantly. Just adv VD Spuy left. He is up now to ask the captain about #Rohde's blood found on scene of Susan's death on pillow case, duvet, bathroom floor. Capt said it could have come from a small nick on finger

Capt Joubert agrees with #Rohde lawyer that Jason Rohde's blood found on the scene at Spier was not enough to indicate violence or trauma and could even be "in keeping" with normal day to day living". Due to misunderstanding Rohde was only examined 4 days later

#Rohde's lawyer says that when Jason was examined, he had a cut from a vase after Susan's death and two minor scratches on his back. VD Spuy asks whether police officer collecting blood samples changed gloves between each sample collection. Said he did not see that

Capt Joubert finishes his testimony in #Rohde trial. State asks for adjournment until Wednesday 10am - did not expected Joubert testimony to go so quickly.

#Rohde case postponed to Wednesday. Rohde's bail extended

[url]https://twitter.com/itchybyte[/URL]

 

[ApplesInMyBra]

How Susan Rohde’s body was found: 'I saw a leg near the basin' - court hears

https://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/...saw-a-leg-near-the-basin-court-hears-20180228

 

[JudgeJudi]

Rohde State witness Lieutenant Colonel Sharlene Otto takes the stand as an expert in DNA analysis.

Otto contributed to Captain Joubert's findings by creating DNA profiles for the blood splatter evidence analysed

Otto: I don't work from a perspective of who is accused. I look at all the stats

Rohde Otto says there is no way to determine when blood was transferred to the pillow case or duvet

Otto says that terracotta tiles in the bathroom and porch affected quality of blood specimens. Only one swab produced a DNA profile

Otto says she cannot determine whether the blood on the bathroom floor is a direct deposit or a secondary deposit

The State has requested a short adjournment in preparation for the next witness Desmond Daniels

Desmond Daniels to take the stand. The maintenance worker was the first to see Susan Rohde's body, after he forced open the hotel bathroom door on July 24, 2016

At 08:15 that morning, Daniels was told that the bathroom door in Rm 221 would not open

Daniels: I thought something had happened. Why can't the door open?

Daniels demonstrates how he opened the bathroom door.

Daniels: When I opened the door I saw a leg near the basin.

Daniels says he saw Susan Rohde's legs from the knees to the feet

https://twitter.com/TeamNews24

 

[JudgeJudi]

Daniels says when Rohde saw the legs he called out "Susie" and went inside the bathroom

After 2 or 3 seconds #Rohde asked Daniels to help him. "When I went in the person was naked," said Daniels.

Daniels: her head was skewed, tilted a bit. There was no breathing and a cable was around her neck

Daniels demonstrates how the cable was found around Susan Rohde's neck

https://twitter.com/TeamNews24

 

[JudgeJudi]

Daniels: The cord was not tight around her neck because I could untie it easily.

Daniels says he opened the door 15 cm when he saw Susan Rohde's leg.

Daniels: I made a phone call to control room because [Susan] wasn't breathing; so that the ambulance and police could be notified.

#Rohde lawyer Adv Van der Spuy requests a postponement in order to adequately prepare for cross-examination of Daniels. "I cannot do justice if I cross-examine the witness now," he says.

Judge Salie-Hlophe grants Adv Van der Spuy's request for postponement of cross-examination.

Cross-examination of Daniels will resume on March 14, 2018.

https://twitter.com/TeamNews24

 

[Tortoise]

It's gonna take 2 weeks to prepare cross examination of the maintenance guy who opened the bathroom door??? WHAT? Is this some kind of a joke? They've just had 2 months off.

 

[tmar]

It's gonna take 2 weeks to prepare cross examination of the maintenance guy who opened the bathroom door??? WHAT? Is this some kind of a joke? They've just had 2 months off.

Well, Tortoise:.
Another South African Trial!!!! :thinking: