Susan Rohde was a suicide risk – expert
Forensic psychiatrist contradicts dead woman’s psychologist
DEFENCE forensic psychiatric expert Dr Larissa Panieri-Peter, has disagreed with Susan Rohde’s psychologist’s diagnosis. She told the Western Cape High Court that based on evidence in court and evidence she collected, Susan was a suicide risk.
“She had major depression with specifiers of anxious distress and mixed moods, that alone increased her risk to suicide very significantly,” she said.
Panieri-Peter was giving evidence in the trial of former property mogul Jason Rohde.
Jason is accused of smothering his wife and then staging the murder as a suicide. Susan was found hanging on the hook of a bathroom door at Spier Wine Estate on July 24, 2016.
It is the defence’s case that Susan could not handle discovering Jason’s extra-marital affair, which she had believed was over.
The defence also attempted to link Susan’s father’s infidelity and the impact it had on her.
However; Susan’s psychologist had testified that Susan was not a suicide risk. Jane Newcombe said in court that she was shocked to hear of Susan’s suicide.
Yesterday Panieri-Peter gave a summary of Susan’s psychological history based on information she heard from Newcombe, their marriage counsellor Carol Nader, as well as Jason, their daughters and friends.
“Prior to her death Susan had a number of vulnerabilities. She had high energy, on-the-go and had a busy personality. She didn’t sit for long and had insecurities. She wanted the world to see a good side of her family and was socially isolated.”
Panieri-Peter said after discovering Jason’s affair, Susan showed a dramatic change in her demeanour and emotions.
Panieri-Peter made reference to a call made by Susan to Newcombe while the couple were at Spier attending Jason’s work function, which was also attended by his mistress, Jolene Alterskye.
Susan had accompanied Jason to the weekend-long function to show Alterskye she was still with her husband.
In describing the call based on information gathered from Newcombe; Panieri-Peter painted a rather sad and sombre Susan during her 10-minute long call to Newcombe after meeting Alterskye.
“She expressed anxiety and distress during the call… Mrs Rohde was crying on the telephone,” Panieri-Peter said.
Judge Gayaat Salie-Hlophe told the psychiatrist that based on Newcombe’s testimony in court she understood that the call sounded positive.
She said the defence expert was setting it out to be negative.
“The engagement between Jane Newcombe and Susan; the conclusion seemed to have placed Susan up in terms of her confidence. Your reading gives a sad picture of Susan,” said Judge Salie-Hlophe.
Today Panieri-Peter will be giving evidence on Jason’s evaluations.