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

[JudgeJudi]

Mihalik going back to when Susan #Rohde contacted Newcombe first. Newcombe expands on topic of the talk Susan #Rohde had attended

Newcombe says the topic of the talk to the Sandton Saps volunteer counsellors was: Depression: fatal illness or ordinary unhappiness. Point of talk was to help counsellors determine whether people were unhappy or depressed

Newcombe says talk Susan #Rohde attended was not just on suicide. Says anti-depressants most commonly prescribed medication and important to know if people had ''ordinary unhappiness'' or ''fatal illness''

Newcombe says there is also a genetic passing down of depression where whole families could be suicidal. The talk was to explore the differences

https://twitter.com/itchybyte

 

[JudgeJudi]

Mihalik sums up what he considers were all the warning signs of suicide, and accuses Newcombe of negligence, incompetence, misdiagnosis.

Defence in #Rohde says only reason psych is sticking to her story is fear of malpractice suit. Psych denies it and sticks to anxiety diagnosis

Tea adjournment now in #Rohde case.

https://twitter.com/itchybyte

 

[JudgeJudi]

The good ... the bad and the ugly

https://twitter.com/itchybyte

 

[JudgeJudi]

The wheels of justice turn ever so slowly in SA.

 

[JudgeJudi]

Trial resumes with psychologist says it was clear from messages between Jason and Susan they were abusive towards each other.

Psych says the abusive messages were there before Susan #Rohde found out about his gf. Clear marriage was ''rocky''.

B4 she found out about gf, Susan was already suspicious re Jason's card activity. ''On your children's life did you stay there'' she asked.

[Seems like JR may have been playing around before the mistress arrived on the scene. How very convenient for him that she works for the company]

Susan' #Rohde's behaviour and interrogative nature of msgs to J, similar to PTSD. Feels emotionally threatened

https://twitter.com/itchybyte

 

[JudgeJudi]

After discovery of affair, Jason #Rohde msgs Susan: ''I am sick and a liar. I am not disputing that Sue.''

[Nice for the court to know he admits to being a liar]

Susan #Rohde demanded to know whether Jolene had been in her house in Plett. Psych says SR is trying to put the pieces together

Susan #Rohde's messages to J after discovering affair are to put the past into the context of the affair

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

 

[JudgeJudi]

On 2/3/2016: Susan #Rohde says ''I do want this to work, but we have a long way to go (with sad face emoji)

Jason #Rohde tells Susan: "I'm all yours Sue'', 'I love and desire you Sue'', ''I don't want a divorce''. Psych says he is trying to show commitment

Psych says in msgs there's a pattern of returning to normal, something triggers breakdown, they go into anger and rage.

Susan #Rohde starts directing vitriol to Jason, his rage grows. She's lost trust completely. Thinks name of man he said had coffee with is code for gf.

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

 

[JudgeJudi]

Jason #Rohde denies having code name for Jolene. Reconciliation for at least two days (March 2016)

Psych observes that in March clear sign in messages that Susan #Rohde was tracking Jason.

If Jason #Rohde is able to soothe Susan and tell her he loves her, she calms. She gets abusive when feels he is minimising effect of gf.

When Susan #Rohde wrote to J: Sometimes I just want to die, his response next day was: I'm so sick of this. J did not express alarm

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

 

[JudgeJudi]

Does anyone remember the Dolly Parton song, Jolene? The words are so apt.

Jolene, Jolene, Jolene, Jolene
I'm begging of you please don't take my man
Jolene, Jolene, Jolene, Jolene
Please don't take him just because you can

Your beauty is beyond compare
With flaming locks of auburn hair
With ivory skin and eyes of emerald green
Your smile is like a breath of spring
Your voice is soft like summer rain
And I cannot compete with you
Jolene

He talks about you in his sleep
And there's nothing I can do to keep
From crying when he calls your name
Jolene

And I can easily understand
How you could easily take my man
But you don't know what he means to me
Jolene

 

[JudgeJudi]

Psych says Jason #Rohde and Susan went into fight/make up pattern, with less abusive language. Abusive lang started again at Spier

Prosecutor asks about Susan referring to book ''When Nietzsche Wept''. Psych says Susan was looking for ''silver lining''

Psych says when Susan #Rohde read words of Suicide Squad song - it's a message of nostalgia. Nothing suicidal about the song

#Rohde trial adjourns to Monday. Psych steps down

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

 

[PrimeSuspect]

Trial resumes with psychologist says it was clear from messages between Jason and Susan they were abusive towards each other.

Psych says the abusive messages were there before Susan #Rohde found out about his gf. Clear marriage was ''rocky''.

B4 she found out about gf, Susan was already suspicious re Jason's card activity. ''On your children's life did you stay there'' she asked.

[Seems like JR may have been playing around before the mistress arrived on the scene. How very convenient for him that she works for the company]

Susan' #Rohde's behaviour and interrogative nature of msgs to J, similar to PTSD. Feels emotionally threatened

https://twitter.com/itchybyte

This is all so sordid and intrusive of an every day event, marriage breakdown/affairs.... If JR is innocent of murder and I believe he is, I feel for his embarrassment about the affair being exposed so publicly. Let it be a warning to his mistress though, it's bad form when the husband/wife speaks badly about their partner to the lover, it'll be just the same for her very soon, that's my advice.

It appears Susan died around 8 am and JR contacted reception 8:22, which doesn't leave room for murder and staging etc. The strange thing is that he didn't open the bathroom door himself, I've been in a similar situation and I opened it with a coin without ringing reception.
Either he had no coin and he didn't feel the situation was desperate enough to burst the door open; he played with valuable time so she'd definitely be dead and he needed a witness to discover her body, he wanted it all over.
At first, a relief she saved him from divorce and a huge settlement, little knowing he'd be charged with murder. Poor Susan, if only she could've seen life beyond just being Mrs Rohde.

 

[JudgeJudi]

Last week in the #Rohde trial we heard that Susan became so distressed during marriage counselling that there was a suggestion that she be admitted for treatment

Trial starts with witness 67 Carol Nader sworn in.

We hear Nader's credentials. She is in 6th year of private practice as private counsellor. Worked with Liberty for 20 years before that.

State hands up intake info form, client contract signed between Susan and Jason Rohde on 29 Feb 2016, private report of 18 Aug 2016.

Psychologist Carol Nader also had legal consultation into medical indemnity insurance

[Medical indemnity insurance is a compulsory condition of registration for all medical practitioners in Oz, and that includes psychologists. I can’t help but wonder if the above tweet means that Nader had a legal consultation to discuss her exposure in this case if there were failures on her part. This is starting to get worrying]

Over 4 sessions Nader's role was to reconcile, improve conflict and resolution skills and assist Susan and Jason #Rohde to move to stronger relationship.

Nader noted Susan felt traumatised saying they were happy, been married for 22 yrs and had 28 year relationship. Susan seem hyper manic. Jason Rohde said 100% committed to marriage.

Nader asked Susan #Rohde if she was suicidal, and she said no, she would never do that to her children. Nader suggested S visit psychiatrist she said no.

Susan #Rohde appeared to be isolating herself. She was doing a lot of gym, lost 8 to 10kg, paced in room, erratic behaviour, insomnia, jumpy, says Nader.

Nader said there were times when Susan #Rohde felt she could have been a better wife, she could have done things differently.

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

 

[JudgeJudi]

Susan #Rohde complained during sessions that she was feeling depressed

Susan #Rohde exhibited low tolerance for mental and emotional pain, showed rage, felt everybody else was happy, wanted to keep up appearances

Susan #Rohde said she felt traumatised, but it was only towards end of sessions that Nader looked at major depression disorder symptoms

Jason #Rohde complained that Sue keeps asking the same questions. Checked for suicidal ideation. Told Jason to take her to a clinic if he was worried. Followed up with an SMS, they did not reply.

Nader noted that the couple did not listen to each other. Susan became more agitated when Jason #Rohde was going to travel.

Between 8 April and 24 May sessions, marked improvement in Susan #Rohde. Started working on improving relationship, teaching listening, how to speak to each other

But by May 22 session, Susan + Jason fighting again. J said S felt insecure and had called him 47 times one day. J said he was sorry ever met S.

Later in May psychologist not convinced Susan not suicidal, but did not raise it again because felt Susan would be insulted coz had already brushed it off before

The session of 20/7/2016 was very stormy. Jason #Rohde walked in and said he was angry as didn't want to attend that day. Susan had fetched him from work.

Susan #Rohde insisted on going to Spier conference. Nader did not think it a good idea. Jason stormed out, then later Susan stormed out

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

 

[JudgeJudi]

On 27th Jason #Rohde told Nader about Sue, he was crying. She had died on 24th.

Earlier Nader said Sue said J's mother was controlling and J had been rebellious and didn't like being controlled, He had good relationship with his stepdad, adopted between 5 &7.

State finished leading evidence. Adjournment and then cross examination by defence.

The #Rohde psychologist thought Susan and Jason were mirroring their childhoods

https://twitter.com/itchybyte

 

[JudgeJudi]

Trial resumes with defence advocate Pete Mihalik introducing himself.

Mihalik asking Nader about a report specialist Dr Larissa Panieri Peter wrote, and Nader was asked to read. Dr LPP said Susan was suicidal, Nader crossed that out she says.

Dr LPP was the defence's expert and when she met Nader, assured her it was a professional discussion on her thoughts regarding Susan and Jason

Mihalik says he has no more questions for Nader. State has no re-examination. Nader excused.

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

 

[JudgeJudi]

Prosecutor's next witness only here on Wednesday. Also have not heard from Dr Khan (pathologist). #Rohde's bail extended.

Adjourned to Wednesday

https://twitter.com/itchybyte

 

[JudgeJudi]

Susan displayed symptoms of Major Depressive Disorder and suicide ideation, the Court heard on Monday.

Carol Nader, the marriage counsellor who had been assisting the couple for 13 sessions, said she had recommended that Susan be admitted to a clinic for treatment.

She said she had asked Rohde if she was suicidal. “Her reply was: 'No. I would never do that to my children.' I never asked her again. I felt that she was insulted by me asking her that question,” said Nader.

https://www.iol.co.za/capeargus/new...-of-marriage-counselling-court-hears-11986038

 

[JudgeJudi]

The trial was on yesterday but unfortunately all the reporters' devices interfered with the audio so no-one could post tweets. I'll post any articles I can find shortly.

 

[JudgeJudi]

The judge presiding over the trial became annoyed by the defence's treatment of his wife's doctor during a gruelling session of cross-examination on Wednesday.

"The last time I checked this was a murder trial," said Judge Gayaat Salie-Hlophe to defence lawyer Advocate Graham van der Spuy.

"Is this witness now on trial for malpractice?" she asked.

She told the court that she did not delve into the marital problems because Susan did not want to discuss the matter. She considered Susan to be sad and tearful, but not depressed or suffering from an anxiety disorder, and not in need of a referral to a psychiatrist.

She said Susan told her the medication was helping because she was sleeping better and feeling calmer. Susan also told her she was also seeing a therapist.

But Van der Spuy listed the titles of volumes on the subjects of anxiety, depression and suicide, and also handed up the package inserts of the medication the doctor prescribed. He said it was common knowledge that potential risk of suicide or suicidal ideation are side effects of Urbanol and Stilnox.

He repeatedly wanted to know why Steenkamp had prescribed the medication and why she had not picked up what medical experts regard as obvious signs of depression.

He also accused her of not doing her job properly in not conducting a full examination of Susan without her clothes on and not taking any blood for Susan to be tested for various ailments, including stomach cancer, given her indigestion.

Steenkamp had only ever taken Susan's blood pressure once, Van der Spuy said, and he contended that her note-taking was sparse.

https://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/...s-defence-out-over-courtroom-tactics-20171115

 

[JudgeJudi]

Van der Spuy also accused Steenkamp of exceeding the maximum two weeks that patients are supposed to take "short-term" medication for, by repeating her scripts once for Urbanol and Stilnox.

Van der Spuy said medical writings show that the risk of suicide with Urbanol increases if it is only taken occasionally. Steenkamp had prescribed it to be taken "as needed".

He also wanted to know why the doctor did not know that Susan had started smoking, and had increased her alcohol intake.

His main thrust was that she had missed vital signs of depression, which Steenkamp denied Susan had shown.

So in reply to Salie-Hlophe's concern about the line of questioning, Van der Spuy said: "I also believe that the injudicious use of these drugs has a major effect on this case."

Steenkamp turned to Salie-Hlophe later and said: "I don't think Mrs Rohde had mental illness. I think she had anxiety because of her marital [problems].

"Everyone experiences anxiety when they are under stress. That does not mean everybody has a mental illness."

She said an anxiety disorder was different from being anxious.

"She did not look depressed. She was anxious. I accept that it is very difficult to predict suicide in patients, but my experience of her was not that she was a severely depressed patient with a risk of suicide at all."

https://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/...s-defence-out-over-courtroom-tactics-20171115