Worker tells of discovering Susan Rohde’s body

THE maintenance worker who was the first person to see Susan Rohde’s lifeless body hanging from the bathroom door hook demonstrated in court how the body was hanging.

Desmond Daniels told the Western Cape High Court that Rohde’s body was hanging in the bathroom of room 221 at the Spier Wine Estate.

Former property boss Jason Rohde is accused of killing his wife, who was found dead on July 24, 2016.

It is the State’s case that she was murdered by Jason and he posed it as a suicide, but the defence maintains that she hanged herself

Daniels said he reported for duty at 7.30am, and 45 minutes later received a call about a bathroom door that wouldn’t open.On arrival at room 221 he said he was let into the room by Jason.

Daniels said he used a screwdriver to unlock the bathroom door. He said the door could also be unlocked using a teaspoon, coin or such an object. He told the court there were teaspoons in room 221.

“When I opened the door I saw a person lying down towards the basin. I opened the door about 30 centimetres and saw the body from the knees down to the feet. The accused called ‘Suzy’.

“He went in and there was silence for about two to three seconds. He then called me to help. He said I should help him remove the cord from the neck,” said Daniels.

Daniels demonstrated to the court how Susan was hanging. He said Jason was carrying her body in his arms.

“When I went in, the person was naked. She was not breathing,” said Daniels.