BREAKING NEWS: Rameez Patel: Witness’ statements read before court

Two more statements, one each from a former domestic worker and general worker both of whom were in the employ of murder accused Rameez Patel at the time of his wife, Fatima’s death, are expected to be read before the Limpopo High Court this morning (Thursday).
This after Judge Joseph Raulinga accepted the state’s application to submit a total of five statements by the two witnesses as hearsay evidence yesterday (Wednesday).
Two statements, one from each of the two workers, were read in court yesterday and referred to the movement of Patel and his brother, Razeen on the day prior to Fatima’s death on 10 April 2015. It was also clear that Patel and Fatima had an argument on the day of her death. At one stage the domestic worker and the children were taken to Patel’s family business premises by Razeen while Patel remained at home with Fatima. It was mentioned that Patel later returned to the business and was wearing different clothes than earlier the day.
When the domestic worker, the children and Patel returned home they found the door open and she recalled domestic seeing blood on the floor, from the entrance door to the kitchen. Patel then entered the house and started screaming and she was not allowed to enter the house again, according to her statement.
In an additional statement recently made by the domestic worker she referred to a certain day after the murder that she allegedly heard Patel talking to four other Indian men in his father’s house. She was in the passage when she heard Patel saying that Fatima had been in the guest bathroom and when she exited he had hit her in the face with a cricket bat. When she fell he grabbed her by the neck to strangle her, according to the statement. The domestic worker recalled that Patel, before becoming aware of her presence, had told the men that the game was over.
She further mentioned a letter Fatima wrote had written to her husband stating that she knew that his parents didn’t love he, but she remained his wife. The statement also refered to a firearm domestic worker had found in Patel’s bedroom while cleaning and of which she had taken a photo with her cell phone.
The trial continues today (Thursday).
Last Friday also saw him arrested on suspicion of killing his mother, Mahjebeen in her house in Nirvana about two weeks ago. He is expected to apply for bail in the Polokwane Magistrate’s Court on Monday.

Story: RC Myburgh
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