Cop in Spier murder case to reveal all today

THE finer details of the monthlong investigation against Geffen Realty property mogul, Jason Rohde, accused of killing his wife, Susan, are expected to be revealed today in the Stellenbosch Magistrate’s Court when the investigating officer takes the stand.

It was initially believed that Rohde’s wife had committed suicide at Spier Wine Estate on July 24. But her death became a murder investigation three weeks ago after a State post-mortem reflected that she had been strangled.

Rohde vehemently denies this and has his own pathologist who compiled a report that concluded that the nature of Susan Rohde’s injuries were consistent with suicide.

But the Stellenbosch detective at the head of the investigation, Sergeant Marlon Appolis, will reveal what else the State has up its sleeve that makes it so sure that Rohde was the one who killed her.

It emerged in court that the State was waiting for the results of a blood splatter investigation, DNA tests and an analy- sis of the couple’s cellphones.

Police are also in possession of the Rohde family laptop.

Rohde was arrested in Bryanston on Tuesday and driven down to Cape Town for his first court appearance.

The State requested a week’s postponement but Rohde is opposing the request, asking to be permitted to apply for his release on bail immediately. He says he has put all his cards on the table since his wife’s death and was told a month ago that he was a suspect.

According to Rohde’s lawyer, Pete Mihalik, the arrest was made without a warrant.

The court heard that there was an arrangement that Rohde would hand himself over, but that seven police officers suddenly showed up at his home and arrested him.

All they had was a letter signed by Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions, Bonnie Currie-Gamwo.

Rohde said he was willing to pay any bail amount. He was concerned about his three daughters, 16-year-old twins and an 18-year-old, in Gauteng.

The court was told he is worth R30 million.