A Brooklyn man accused of killing his wife, who was denied bail, has appealed his bail application at the North Gauteng High Court on Wednesday.
Prem Emmanuel Basdeo was arrested in connection to his wife, Dawn’s alleged murder.
In July he was denied bail by a Pretoria magistrate who said he had not proven exceptional circumstances that would warrant his release.
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His lawyer Piet Pistorius told the high court that the previous magistrate had denied the bail based on the “tense atmosphere” created by inadmissible evidence presented by the state.
“There was also a lot of public interest in the case,” he said.
Opposing bail, prosecutor Lizette Williams said Basdeo would tamper with evidence and was likely to intimidate witnesses.
“He used to be a police officer, so he would know how to tamper with certain things,” she said.
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“Him being denied bail is to protect the investigation.”
Williams said Basdeo was a dishonest man who not only changed his version of events three times, but also led police to a incorrect spot where he allegedly dumped his wife’s body.
Pistorius argued that his client had no power to tamper with evidence.
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“How can my client tamper with DNA results or cellphone records,” he said.
Acting Judge David Makoba, who heard the matter, said the circumstantial evidence the state had would be tested.
He said the state had the task of proving whether Basdeo’s “dishonesty” made him unworthy of receiving bail.
“Whether he is honest or dishonest has nothing to do with bail,” he said.
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“It seems the previous ruling concentrated too much on the strength of the state’s case.”
Basdeo reported Dawn missing to Brooklyn police in June.
He claimed that she left their home to go to a hospital for blood tests, but never returned.
Her body has yet to be found and the state believes she was murdered after blood was found in the house they shared.
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Makoba also asked the state to prove how Basdeo would tamper with the investigation.
Williams said: “He might move the body or dispose of it completely.”
Judgement on the application is expected to be handed down on 6 November.
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