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

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Packham arrives at the WC High Court as his murder trial proceedings nears its end. His defense team will present their closing arguments shortly.

Adv Craig Webster says from the outset Packham pleaded not guilty. It was significant after plea entered, extensive admissions were made, including affidavits pertaining to his movements on the day of this wife's murder.

Webster: admissions were to place before the court detailed info on his whereabouts before the first witness was called. Judge Steyn says she doesn't know exactly what he did as all those details were not included in his statement. Webster refers to Exhibit K.

Gill Packham was murdered on February 22, but the time is not known, Webster points out. "At some course during the course of that day, the deceased died." His says his client wasn't coy about what he was doing that day.

Webster says there was a great deal of suspicion, but asks what is the reliable evidence and what has been established? Manner in which investigation was conducted focused on the accused from the outset. He argues that the case was built only around Packham.

Team News24 (@TeamNews24) | Twitter
 
Identification evidence from Mr Gray and Mr Thomas is central to the State's case. Webster doesn't dispute that Mr Gray saw the green BMW that day. But who was the person behind the wheel? He couldn't describe the white male who got into the vehicle.

Gray had to walk through the courtroom before pointing out Packham. Judge Steyn says the witness should be commended that he wanted to make sure he chose the right person. "The picture is that Mr Gray wasn't certain," Webster counters.

Gray and Thomas were single witnesses in separate instances where they placed Packham in separate vehicles - his wife's and his own. Court must be mindful of the cautionary rule applicable to evidence of a single witness, must be clear, satisfactory in every respect.

Webster asks the probative value of the identification parade. Were the guidelines and parameters set out followed? Was it tainted by irregularities? There is no standard order or fixed procedure.

Team News24 (@TeamNews24) | Twitter
 
Common cause Packham case got much media attention. Photos of accused were published, prior to ID parade. 'Wife killer in court', is one headline, with photo of couple,. Thomas saw a pic of Gill and Rob on his cellphone. He recognised Packham, Steyn says.

Irregularity in ID process that Mr Gray and Mr Thomas were together prior to the ID parade, Webster says. The two were transported together to the police station. Parade should not be conducted in conditions that allow for prior discussion between witnesses.

[SG is sitting back in her chair, not writing and clearly relaxed. Hakuna matata.

Webster has a sense that Mr Thomas' evidence was tailored, although not necessarily to mislead the court. Mr Gray didn't appear very sure of himself or his facts, he argues.

Dock identification similar to a leading question, Webster reads from a past judgement. Danger that a person can be identified simply because they are seated in the dock.

Adjourn for tea.

Team News24 (@TeamNews24) | Twitter
 
The Defence spent a great deal of time on 'tainting' in the identification process, citing past articles at each point, continually.
He took a long time, repeating the 'tainting process in the identification'.
The Judge disagreed a few times during these points.

Webster has very long breaks between sentences all throughout his presentation.
Sometimes I wonder if he has finished, and then continues.
 
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Webster continues with arguments. Mr Gray, 76, wears bifocals and long distance sunglasses. He conceded he couldn't that day get a good look at person in green BMW when he pulled up alongside him; both vehicle's windows closed. Couldn't clearly describe man.

According to evidence, it took Mr Gray 20 minutes to identify Packham in photo ID parade. All these factors demonstrate Mr Gray's evidence is unreliable. "Doesn't take rocket science" that person in the dock is accused. His eyesight and observation are questionable.

Webster says it must be concluded that Mr Gray's evidence is entirely unreliable and should be rejected. He believes his testimony shouldn't carry any weight.

Mr Thomas said he had had a clear view of the man he identified as Packham. He had testified that the driver he saw that night was a coloured man, we previously heard. Judge Steyn says the man was wearing a cap in the car and could've changed the colour of his skin.

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Judge Steyn says the light in the car coupled with the cap could have changed his complexion. Mr Thomas's age estimate (30-35) was also off. #Packham was nevertheless the youngest person in his photo ID line-up. Webster questions the appropriateness of method used.

Packham would be very flattered to hear he fell into the 30-35 category, Webster quips, but the conclusion was that someone other than his client was driving the car Mr Thomas saw that night. Judge Steyn says not that many white Audi Q5s.

At the time Mr Thomas saw the car at 8:30, Packham has said he was with his sister in Tokai. "Is there reasonable doubt?" He answers his own question that there is.

Gill Packham was murdered sometime between 7am and 8:30pm. Webster says Packham was elsewhere at the time of the car burning at Diep River station. This is according to the testimony of his sister Judith as well as the cellphone data retrieved.

Team News24 (@TeamNews24) | Twitter
 
If Mr Gray and Mr Thomas identification cannot be relied on, what is left? Webster asks what is the circumstantial evidence the State wishes to rely upon to establish his guilt?

Packham asked colleague Lodewyk Janse van Rensburg to say they had had a meeting the morning of the murder. He later conceded Packham may have said "when Gill calls". Judge Steyn says JvW had also said "when anybody calls".

If he did say "if Gill calls" in his call after midday, it proved that Packham believed she was alive at the time.

Gill Packham's blood was found in the garage. She was ostensibly injured while "manhandling" the recycling and had cut her hand a week before, according to Packham.

Team News24 (@TeamNews24) | Twitter
 
Blood in bathroom - Packham's blood found in the vicinity of where he shaves, Webster says.

Cellphone data: Packham arrived at his sister's home in Tokai at 19:08 and left at 21:18.

Nothing sinister to be inferred from Packham's movements in terms of cellphone data that day, Webster maintains. Materially corroborated by where he says he was that day. Nothing to be gleaned, save favourable for the accused.

Packham Incorrect cellphone PIN number provided when it was seized. Webster says his client had not been prepared to allow access so that his personal data could be disseminated.

Team News24 (@TeamNews24) | Twitter
 
Live streaming has become unstable due to reception dropping at court. News24 is urgently trying to fix it.
 
Webster asks why Packham would drive away then come back with friends if it was him Thomas had seen. Judge Steyn says Packham hadn't gone near the car. "If my husband was potentially burning in a car, I most certainly would have gone to see what was going on."

Judge Steyn says she would've expected a pro-active stance from a husband who must have believed his wife was burning in a car. "He should have been totally frantic." Packham complied when he was told he couldn't go near the burning car, which Steyn found strange.

"This gentleman has shown he can be a very good actor, Judge Steyn says, referring to his "double life", affair. Webster says Packham was telling untruths in terms of his affair, inference may be he has a deceitful nature.

Webster says people who engage in affairs would be involved in deceit and untruths, "goes with the territory". Packham was committed to fixing his marriage. Steyn counters that he bought a commitment ring while planning to go away for the weekend with another woman.

Team News24 (@TeamNews24) | Twitter
 
Court has adjourned for lunch. Fingers crossed they can sort out the streaming issue.
 
JudgeJudi said:
Judge Steyn says she would've expected a pro-active stance from a husband who must have believed his wife was burning in a car. "He should have been totally frantic." Packham complied when he was told he couldn't go near the burning car, which Steyn found strange.
Click to expand...


oh!

This is why I far prefer common law Judge trials with a razor sharp Judge!
 
Court resumes. Webster says Packham's phone was on, proof that he wasn't trying to hide his movements; he just wanted to conceal his whereabouts that morning from his wife.

There was no reluctance from Packham to hand over his Audi Q5, and there was no evidence that his client evasive or reluctant to hand over the vehicle, Webster says.

Webster says Sergeant Sonnenberg didn't investigate the murder in an even-handed manner and had focused on Packham from February 23, 2018.

Packham has been consistent in his evidence, Webster says. From an early stage up until today, his version has been the same. His client had also been a good witness and his version is corroborated by the evidence, the advocate maintains.


Team News24 (@TeamNews24) | Twitter
 
Packham had on the day been wearing a long sleeve Twizza shirt with dark chinos. Mr Gray had seen a man in shorts, while Steed had in the camera footage seen a person in a light blue or fair top, Webster says.

Packham had also tried to call his wife during the course of the day. This would not make sense if he had known she had been killed earlier, Webster pointed out.

Indicative of an innocent state of mind was that Packham had told the police when he went to report Gill missing that they had had an argument the night before, Webster says.

Judge Steyn questions whether Packham went to Diep River station voluntarily. Webster says they (six friends and relatives) got into one car at the police station and went to the train station. He argues there is nothing on record that indicates he was reluctant to go.

Team News24 (@TeamNews24) | Twitter
 
Packham is entitled to be acquitted and discharged on both counts, Webster says.

Adv Galloway responds: Single witness evidence of Mr Gray and Mr Thomas was corroborated with cellphone evidence as well as circumstantial evidence.

Galloway argues that questions surrounding ID parade may be considered imperfections, but not irregularities. Mr Gray and Mr Thomas also did not discuss the appearance of the person they were there to identify.

Galloway says witnesses consistent in their identification of Packham as the person they saw.

There is no evidence to support his alleged alibi, Galloway says. And he only made two calls to Gill's phone, she points out. The previous day there had been five calls between them.

Galloway argues considering all the relevant evidence, saying Packham's version is corroborated by the State's case is far-fetched.

Team News24 (@TeamNews24) | Twitter
 
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Packham's lover talks about ‘absolute gentleman’ despite knowing of mistress | Weekend Argus

I considered posting this link for 24 hours as it is truly disturbing and frankly sensational. However, I do feel it speaks to the character of the the accused et al. Poor Gill how distressing it must have been to live with this situation. We have witnessed so many horrific crimes against women lately. As a woman in South Africa it makes me livid and sad at the same time the character assassination that takes place in the wake of the murder of these lovely wives and mothers. May Gill's truth be told. Finally how do so many mistresses fool themselves into thinking this behavior is acceptable.
 
lilmac said:
Packham's lover talks about ‘absolute gentleman’ despite knowing of mistress | Weekend Argus

I considered posting this link for 24 hours as it is truly disturbing and frankly sensational. However, I do feel it speaks to the character of the the accused et al. Poor Gill how distressing it must have been to live with this situation. We have witnessed so many horrific crimes against women lately. As a woman in South Africa it makes me livid and sad at the same time the character assassination that takes place in the wake of the murder of these lovely wives and mothers. May Gill's truth be told. Finally how do so many mistresses fool themselves into thinking this behavior is acceptable.
Click to expand...

Yuk.
How many more affairs will we hear about.:(
These 'affair' women are crazy, being in relationships with married men, as if it is quite OK.
Please this Creep, Packham, two timed them all.
Poor Gill.
 
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