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

[JudgeJudi]

Dr. Perumal was an excellent witness for the defence. He has vast experience in his field, and like he pointed out, no professional is willing to lose their credibility just for one case/client. Let's see how the state responds.

It's a pity he's the Defence pathologist. This is quite a tricky trial due to Susan's psychological issues. Because of that, I believe the Judge will make her decision based largely on the pathologists' evidence.

While a motive isn't required, he certainly had one. I simply detest this man. The fact that he's admitted to the court that he's a liar won't help his cause. However, I also think that he's stated repeatedly how deceitful he was to try and convince the Court that he's being truthful now. He's said it soooo many times. It's a case of rinse and repeat, but it doesn't wash with me.

 

[Dora in the field]

It's a pity he's the Defence pathologist. This is quite a tricky trial due to Susan's psychological issues. Because of that, I believe the Judge will make her decision based largely on the pathologists' evidence.

While a motive isn't required, he certainly had one. I simply detest this man. The fact that he's admitted to the court that he's a liar won't help his cause. However, I also think that he's stated repeatedly how deceitful he was to try and convince the Court that he's being truthful now. He's said it soooo many times. It's a case of rinse and repeat, but it doesn't wash with me.

I don't like him either JJ, he is arrogant and full of himself. He is responsible for his wife's psychological problems. He had absolutely no respect for her. I also believe that he hit her and strangled her that night.
But, can the state prove that without a doubt? So far I am disappointed with the prosecution. Stating that one is a liar, is not evidence. Present solid facts to back it up! They have done a poor job so far.

 

[L2L]

I don't like him either JJ, he is arrogant and full of himself. He is responsible for his wife's psychological problems. He had absolutely no respect for her. I also believe that he hit her and strangled her that night.
But, can the state prove that without a doubt? So far I am disappointed with the prosecution. Stating that one is a liar, is not evidence. Present solid facts to back it up! They have done a poor job so far.

Similar thoughts about the prosecution.

 

[JudgeJudi]

Welcome to our new WS members, Dora, Christelle and CindyDeane, and greetings to patCee, nice to have you join us.

While I've got you all here, you might like to have a look at this thread.

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

It's for a new trial that's starting on 10 July. It looks promising and you'll be able to follow it through from beginning to end if you like it. It's always hard getting people to join in South African trials but the court hours particularly suit those of us from Oz and the UK.

 

[Dora in the field]

Welcome to our new WS members, Dora, Christelle and CindyDeane, and greetings to patCee, nice to have you join us.

While I've got you all here, you might like to have a look at this thread.

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

It's for a new trial that's starting on 10 July. It looks promising and you'll be able to follow it through from beginning to end if you like it. It's always hard getting people to join in South African trials but the court hours particularly suit those of us from Oz and the UK.

Thank you JJ, I will be following this trial too! Poor Gill...

 

[JudgeJudi]

Jason Rohde's defence team will today be calling forensic psychiatrist, Dr Larissa Panieri-Peter, to testify. She has featured in some high profile cases and was previously attached to the forensic unit at Valkenberg Hospital.

Prosecutor says he received psychiatrist's 43-page report. Drafted up legal argument objecting to the admissibility of report as evidence. "This report does not contain a CV of this witness nor does it contain any documents/statements referred to".

The court will hear Panieri-Peter's testimony and then the State can raise any arguments it has. Defence lawyer Graham van der Spuy (VDS) says she needed access to Rohde's testimony in court to assist her report.

There was a problem with transcripts so Panieri-Peter (PP) watched the live-stream and VDS filled her in. She finalised her report within 24hrs of Jason concluding testimony. VDS: "By any measure, that was an exceptionally speedy finalisation".

Team News24 (@TeamNews24) | Twitter

 

[JudgeJudi]

VDS: Part of her modus operandi involved checking through documents, looking at docket, interviewing people. Judge asks what PP's mandate was. VDS says mandate was in relation to both Jason and Susan.

VDS: She was instructed to assess Jason and to conduct a retrospective psychiatric assessment of the deceased. Jason's "broad psychiatric assessment" took place in September 2016.

VDS says State prosecutor Louis van Niekerk is conducting "a trial by ambush" by alleging that he could not get hold of him on Friday with questions and objections about this next witness.

VDS respectfully submits that it is for the court to decide what weight to place on the evidence of PP. He says her file is 300-400 pages long with info she has gathered and assessments she has conducted.

Team News24 (@TeamNews24) | Twitter

 

[JudgeJudi]

 

[JudgeJudi]

Judge Salie-Hlophe: "I am very keen to hear what the witness has to say". She invites defence to lead PP's evidence.

PP confirms details in her abridged CV. Her professional qualifications include a Bachelor of Medicine & Surgery (*advertiser censored* laude) from UCT in 1994. She received UCT's Psychiatry medal in 2003 and 10 academic scholarships.

PP interned at Groote Schuur Hospital. She later worked as GP at private practice in Atlantis. After that, a senior house officer in Neurology department at Groote Schuur. And neurosurgery dept at Red Cross Children's Hospital in 1997.

PP specialised in psychiatry by rotating through different hospitals in the Western Cape between 1998-2002.

Team News24 (@TeamNews24) | Twitter

 

[JudgeJudi]

The court hears that PP won a few medals. Because of her experience, knowledge, training and track record, the HPCSA approved her to be registered in sub-specialty of forensic psychiatry in 2014.

PP was appointed as specialist psychiatrist at Valkenberg hospital and later promoted to senior position. VDS struggles to hear her and she apologises, saying she has a "frog in her throat".

PP went into private practice as a forensic psychiatrist for civil and criminal cases in 2009.

The court hears that PP has been involved in some high-profile matters including the Griekwastad case.

Team News24 (@TeamNews24) | Twitter

 

[JudgeJudi]

VDS asks PP if it is fair to say that she is an expert in psychiatry and forensic psychiatrist. She replies: "I have considerable experience. The court will determine whether it accepts or doesn't my testimony on that aspect".

PP was asked to assess Jason to look for any factors that would be congruent or not with intimate partner homicide.

The court hears her report is lengthy. VDS says she drafted a summary with key points to assist everyone. PP clarifies it is more like a table of contents than a summary.

PP starts with reading her 43-pg report. She says Jason was sent to her in September 2016. She was also asked to look at Susan's history to do a "psychological autopsy".

Team News24 (@TeamNews24) | Twitter

 

[Jennifer17]

VDS asks PP if it is fair to say that she is an expert in psychiatry and forensic psychiatrist. She replies: "I have considerable experience. The court will determine whether it accepts or doesn't my testimony on that aspect".

PP was asked to assess Jason to look for any factors that would be congruent or not with intimate partner homicide.

The court hears her report is lengthy. VDS says she drafted a summary with key points to assist everyone. PP clarifies it is more like a table of contents than a summary.

PP starts with reading her 43-pg report. She says Jason was sent to her in September 2016. She was also asked to look at Susan's history to do a "psychological autopsy".

Team News24 (@TeamNews24) | Twitter

A bit unfair to diagnose a person who is no longer here.

 

[JudgeJudi]

PP says psychological autopsy is a terrible word but is "accepted as gold standard". It is when officials try to gather as much info from people who knew the deceased to work out what led up to the moment of death.

"When someone is dead, you can't talk to them. We need to understand why people get to point that they kill themselves". To overcome criticism on this method, must talk to as many people as possible who were close to deceased, as soon after death as possible.

PP details who she interviewed. These include Rohde's eldest daughter, their housekeeper and long-standing friends of the married couple.

PP also spoke to Jason and Susan's marriage counsellor and separate clinical psychologists.

Team News24 (@TeamNews24) | Twitter

 

[JudgeJudi]

During these interviews, PP asked about the strengths and weaknesses of Jason and Susan. At the end, she asked specific and focused questions about Susan's "psychiatric issues".

PP: "The information can only have any psychiatric credibility if I go in with an open mind". She says it is her role to provide an opinion and to leave it to court to make final decisions.

PP: I could understand the grief and immense pain of Mrs Rohde's family and why they would not want to participate. All of the couple's friends had known Susan a very long time.

PP says everyone she interviewed had chance to read through her notes afterwards and sign to make sure they were accurate.

Team News24 (@TeamNews24) | Twitter

 

[JudgeJudi]

PP: I have been astonished sometimes at how an interaction can be remembered by two people. I am quite a meticulous note keeper. People I interviewed were very anxious about coming to court and had referred to another high-profile matter.

PP says that when she read the statement of marriage counsellor, she was surprised by what she was quoted as saying during their discussion.

Judge asks PP to what extent she would attach value to marriage counsellor's diagnosis. PP acknowledges role of qualifications and what they can diagnosis and stand by. She says she took counsellor's observations very seriously and was impressed by them.

After being asked by the defence, PP explains what the difference is between psychiatrist, forensic psychiatrist, clinical psychologist and marriage counselor.

Team News24 (@TeamNews24) | Twitter

 

[JudgeJudi]

PP continues reading her report. She looked at couple's history regarding family, health, education and occupation, substances and addiction, relationships, psychiatric and psychological issues.

PP says Susan's family declined her invite to be interviewed. They did not give reason why. "I could understand their reluctance to participate in this process." Says she kept invite open.

PP says the sudden death of a loved one causes shock and horror. Various rumours began in the community. Due to speculation and media sensationalism, homicide was mentioned. People are angry and confused.

Court hear earlier that PP looked at reports of Coetzee-Khan and Perumal, police docket, Whatsapp communication, Susan and and her daughter’s FB profiles, and another diary of Susan's that was found at her home.

Team News24 (@TeamNews24) | Twitter

 

[JudgeJudi]

PP explains how she looked at who Susan Rohde was before she found out about affair, the second phase of February to June 2016, and then the build-up.

PP mentions that is important to look at someone's psychological vulnerability to understand how that may influence their reaction to events.

Court hears about Susan's upbringing, her career path and how she ended up at home as a full-time mom.

PP: To summarise, Susan was facing the empty nest. She was a very talented athlete, attended gym very regularly, liked to read and spent a lot of time involved in her children's extramural activities.

Team News24 (@TeamNews24) | Twitter

 

[JudgeJudi]

PP says that after interviewing people, it was revealed that Susan bruised very easily, "like an apple".

PP: Susan was a non-smoker. Her friends were shocked to find out she had taken the habit up. There was no evidence of recreational drug use.

PP: Susan was affectionate, meticulous, competitive by nature and concerned by appearance of herself, home, children. She could be very kind, was generous and outgoing. She was not spontaneous and lived by a calendar.

PP: Although no diagnosis of post-natal depression was made, people reported that Susan was paranoid and protective of her first-born. She was excessively concerned with germs near baby. I put that there but didn't draw great inference from it.

PP says there is one piece of information she got from Jason, "which I had to drag out in different ways" and it is not confirmed. I am very anxious about saying it in this forum. It is about a third party and it is important.

Team News24 (@TeamNews24) | Twitter

 

[JudgeJudi]

It seems that the sound will be turned off when PP reveals this one piece of information.

VDS says he has spoken to the media and it has been agreed that the sound will be blocked when PP mentions the sensitive info she mentioned earlier.

We cannot report on what PP revealed to the court. She is now continuing with what is in her report.

PP says Susan's daughter reported that her mom struggled to let go of a point during an argument.

Team News24 (@TeamNews24) | Twitter

 

[JudgeJudi]

PP says there was a significant observable change in Susan in the months before her death. She wants to read out some literature. Explains that one of the NB things in psychiatry is that there is a spectrum from mild to severe.

PP refers to Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM–5) and how a patient must show at least 5 of 9 symptoms every day to receive Major Depressive Disorder diagnosis.

PP now reads out associated symptoms of Major Depressive Disorder "with anxious distress". These include feeling keyed up or tense, unusually restless, concentration issues, fear that something awful may happen or they may lose control.

PP reads out a third article about the combination of depression and activation. "Mixed mood state in which one feels incredibly sad, restless, agitated, sometimes happy and energetic, all at the same time but very unpleasant space to be in".

Team News24 (@TeamNews24) | Twitter