GUILTY South Africa - Gill Packham, 57, murdered, Cape Town, 22 February, 2018 *arrest*

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Thanks for the link Manny8171. Apparently the couple's daughters were aware that their father was cheating on their mother. He also wanted an "open marriage" but Gill tried to make their marriage work. Sounds a lot like Susan Rohde; a wife cannot accept her husband's "needs", so she has to get out of the way?
 
According to their two daughters, their mother had a passion for gardening and belonged to a few gardening clubs and also enjoyed ballet and cycling. Apparently, she loved her Chardonnay. According to her friends, the 57-year-old had a bubbly personality and was well known for her big smile and warm heart.

Her body was found in the boot of her burning BMW vehicle near the Diep River railway station. Her body was so badly burned that she had to be identified through forensic comparison. Her husband was arrested for her murder a short while later.

The State contends that the Packhams were having marital problems and that Rob had sent his wife a text message saying “thinking of calling it a day”.

We remember Gill Packham | IOL News
 
Gill sent RP packing in the weeks prior to her murder, according to a close confidant. “She kicked Rob out of the house because she couldn’t condone his infidelity. “He wanted an open marriage but she was having none of it.”

RP moved in with his widowed sister who owns a home not far from Pollsmoor Prison and had been living with her for several weeks before he is alleged to have murdered Gill.

Gill remained “loyal to her husband” and was committed to making her marriage work. “Gill didn’t want to leave Rob or divorce him. Even when she found out that he had been cheating on her for years and that her daughters knew about it, she was prepared to stick it out and work hard to make their relationship work. Before she died she used to say to me that she couldn’t be single at her age. ‘I don’t want to be a lonely old lady,’ she used to say. She wanted to maintain the image of the perfect family even though those close to her were advising her to leave. “The irony is that Gill was anything close to an old woman. And had she walked out on Rob she might still be alive today and would probably have found new happiness.”

Some of the horror of Gill’s final hours was clarified in the Magistrate’s Court this week where RP was served with the indictment confirming the charges against him. Drafted by Susan Galloway, the prosecutor who put family axe murderer Henri van Breda behind bars, it declares that she will be requesting life imprisonment for RP when his trial commences in the High Court in February.

On the first count of murder the State alleges RP killed his wife of 30 years “by hitting her with a blunt object and/or inflicting violence the forms of which is unknown to the State”.

On the second count of defeating or obstructing the course of justice the State alleges RP set her car alight with her dead body in the boot, tampered with the crime scene and supplied false information to the police.

In its summary of substantial facts the State further alleges that RP was seen driving GIll’s car in traffic on the day she was murdered. “During late afternoon a motor vehicle fitting the description of the deceased’s vehicle was found near Diep River train station. The vehicle had been set alight. “A male person was observed driving away from the scene. The identity of the male is the accused.”

The summary handed to RP in court further reveals that Gill was not burnt alive. “The cause of death is noted as blunt traumatic head injuries and the consequence thereof. The body was burnt post-mortem.”

#GillPackham had 'kicked husband out of house' | Weekend Argus
 
RP’s former mistress has provided evidence suggesting he breached his bail conditions.

He was out on bail of R50,000 in connection with Gill Packham’s murder and one of his bail conditions blocked him from contacting state witnesses.

Det Sonnenberg took the stand in the Western Cape High Court to discuss details from a witnesses affidavit claiming RP visited her at work to drop flowers and a card several months after he was released on bail.

The witness - whose name is being withheld at this stage - is the accused’s former mistress.

The mistress supplied video footage to police showing RP handing flowers and a love note to the doorman at her place of work.

She alleges she subsequently received a text and an email stating “I still love you, I want to see you” which were both sent from a person named Richard Hopkins.

Det. Sonnenberg says the witness told police she believed the communication was in fact from RP.

Rob Packham’s mistress provides evidence he breached bail conditions
 
During his pre-trial appearance yesterday, it emerged that RP’s lawyer advocate Ben Mathewson would not be available. Judge Parker asked whether advocate Pieter Botha might step in to assist. Botha represented him when he breached his bail conditions by contacting State witnesses, including a woman with whom he had been having an extramarital affair. Mathewson told the Judge, "He (Botha) is able and willing. I am not sure whether he is available" and that he was awaiting financial instructions.

RP is still under house arrest but is allowed to visit a shopping centre once a week for three hours, visit a medical practitioner for emergencies, visit his psychologist once a week, travel to his lawyers to prepare his case and attend church service every Sunday.

He also has to inform his investigating officer from his landline whenever he leaves home and returns, as well as report to the police station every day.

He had to hand over all his electronic devices to his lawyer and police can search his property at any time for similar devices.

Constantia man accused of killing wife needs to find new lawyer for trial
 
I just realised that I missed Manny's earlier post.

"Drafted by Susan Galloway, the seasoned prosecutor who put family axe murderer Henri van Breda behind bars, it declares that she will be requesting life imprisonment for Packham when he steps into the High Court dock in February. [NB it is now 11 March]"

"On the first count of murder the State alleges Packham killed his wife of 30 years “by hitting her with a blunt object and/or inflicting violence the forms of which is unknown to the State”.

He was originally charged under Schedule 5 which carries a sentence of 15 years but this now appears to have been upgraded to Schedule 6.

A life sentence, whether for premeditated or aggravated murder, means you must serve 25 years before being eligible to apply for parole.

Goodness knows what the underlined text means because many people have been burnt to death so it must be something else. I shudder think.

#GillPackham had 'kicked husband out of house' | Weekend Argus
 
The inquiry into Rob Packham’s breach of his bail conditions lifted the lid on his odd behaviour, which included pestering a friend for sex. The revelation of his request for "raw primal sex" came when he sought to discredit a mutual friend of his and his former mistress. The friend went to the police to report Packham’s illegal attempts to contact his former lover, who is a state witness.

Through his lawyer, Ben Mathewson, Packham said the friend is a member of a swingers' club.

Packham told the court this week that he had received threatening letters and also a photograph of himself with “666” etched on his forehead.

‘I crave raw primal sex’: Murder accused Packham’s e-mail to a friend
 
Packham murder trial set to start March 11 | Cape Argus
Cape Town - Rob Packham will have to wait until the end of his trial, for the alleged murder of his wife, before he is a free man.

This is after a Western Cape High Court judge kept to her decision of revoking his bail, keeping him in custody for the duration of the trial which is set to start on March 11.
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