Rohde out on strict bail conditions
UNDER stringent bail conditions granted yesterday, murder accused Jason Rohde will be forced to remain in the province until at least his next court appearance.
Rohde, accused of the murder of his wife Susan, was released on R100 000 bail and the condition of a R1 million surety that will be forfeited if he violates bail conditions or flees proceedings.
The now-suspended national chief executive of Lew Geffen Sotheby’s International Realty is accused of murdering Susan at the Spier Wine Farm in Stellenbosch, where they were staying for a company function.
The 47-year-old Susan was found with the electric cord of a hair-straightening iron around her neck.
Jason has a legal arsenal of five lawyers at his disposal, together with an investigation team, including an independent pathologist, to help him prove his case that Susan committed suicide.
Yesterday, he was led away through the back door of the Stellenbosch Magistrate’s Court accompanied by his lawyer, Pete Mihalik, and did not hide from photographers. He will stay with his brother-inlaw until he is back in court on September 23, as the State says it is still finalising aspects of its investigation.
His bail conditions could, however, change as his defence fights for him to be able to return to Johannesburg, where his three daughters stay and his business interests lie.
While the State did not oppose bail, magistrate Greg Jacobs denied the defence access to a pathology report that had been leaked to the media.
Jason’s bail conditions include having to report to the Melkbosstrand police station three times a week – every Monday, Wednesday and Friday – between 4pm and 7pm.
His travel documents are in the State’s possession and he is not allowed to apply for travel documents until the finalisation of the trial.
He also cannot make contact with witnesses and cannot be near an international port of entry without approval.
Mihalik, however, said it would be impossible for Jason to not interact with some of the witnesses, who are business associates, and instead said the accused would not discuss the merits of the case with them.
“The defence is agreeing that he stays in the Western Cape until the next court date. Whereafter he be relocated to his residential premises in Gauteng. His daughter of 18 is in matric and she resides in that home. His family is there.”
National Prosecuting Authority spokesperson Eric Ntabazalila said: “Those conditions may change.”
Tony Mostert, of Jason’s legal team, said the State had no basis to have detained him for almost a week.
His defence team said they are concerned about the fairness and legality of the investigation and actions taken by police in the investigation of Susan’s death.
The legal team undertook an independent investigation “to address the unsupported claims” that Susan’s death may not have been suicide.
This investigation has also already found that the police investigators probably contaminated the crime scene, they added.
“The accusation that Mr Rohde may have been responsible for the death of his wife, as represented by SAPS and reported on by certain sectors of the media, is unsupported by the evidence in possession of his defence team. The independent pathology report is consistent with suicide.”
They also say conclusions have been drawn by some of the media before any due process of law has taken place.
“The grief and heartache suffered by Mr Rohde, his young children and family members continues to be exacerbated by the irresponsible media reports from certain sectors. Mr Rohde’s innocence and constitutional rights will be vigorously defended.”