POLOKWANE – Patel is on trial for the murder of his wife, Fatima, in April last year. On Wednesday, two witnesses took to the stand and described the murder scene, saying the house was full of blood.
Dr Arnold Mamashela, a state pathologist, stated Fatima’s chances of survival were minimal due to the brutality of the attack. Mamashela’s post-mortem report stated the deceased suffered multiple brutal wounds, had a fractured skull and he said a gunshot wound to her head probably ultimately caused Fatima’s death.
The court also heard that Patel was covered in his wife’s blood and that he had bathed and changed into traditional Muslim regalia after the shooting.
The second witness, security patrol officer in Nirvana, Gawie van Botha, was one of the first people at the scene after the shooting. Botha said when he entered the house, he found Fatima bleeding in her husband’s arms and that Rameez was full of blood. Botha was told to go upstairs and investigate because there had been an intruder in the house but said he found no signs of forced entry, with no windows broken in the house.
Another witness, Sarah Malatji was called to the stand this morning (Thursday). Malatji is the domestic worker of Patel’s neighbour. She told the court that she heard a gunshot and a woman screaming at the same time on the day of the murder but says she didn’t go and check at the house after hearing the gunshot as it was quiet.
The trial continues.
THE TRAIL SO FAR
Polokwane businessman Rameez Patel stands accused of murdering his wife, Fatima in April last year.
On Tuesday 18 October Dr Abdul Ahmed was called to the stand as state witness to testify in the Fatima Patel murder case.
Ahmed is the Landlord of the complex in Nirvana where the couple lived at the time of the incident. It is also at this complex where Fatima was killed.
The murder trial resumed yesterday in the Polokwane High Court where Rameez’s brother Razeen was called as a witness. He told the court that the electric fence surrounding the complex was not working at the time of the incident and that the victims handbag was missing on the day she was murdered.
Patel’s husband, Rameez stands accused of murdering her in April last year.
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Judge Raulinga has told the court that the testimony from Abdul is in direct contract to the previous witness.
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Court resumes after a brief adjournment and the second witness for the day takes the stand.
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Kader downloaded the CCTV footage from the day in question.
Kader says the footage showed three vehicles entering the premises at 15:00 and another vehicle entering at 16:30.
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Mokwena argues that the footage he viewed showed a pedestrian entering the complex in the early afternoon.
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Court has adjourned for lunch. More witnesses to take the stand after lunch.
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Mokwena resumes by questioning the witness, Kader, about the types of CCTV recordings. Kader names two: continuous and motion detection.
Mokwena objects to Kader’s statement that the recording was done with motion detection.
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Hughes says her and Fatima often had personal conversations about her relationship with her husband where she would often end up crying.
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Andrew Kearns is a technical manager of a security company in Polokwane.
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In June this year a second murder charge brought against Patel was withdrawn due to a lack of evidence. He was arrested on 31 July 2015 for allegedly assaulting Fanie Adams who later died in hospital.
During his bail application, it was testified that Patel assaulted Adams with a hockey stick and dumped his body in the parking area of a nearby supermarket aided by second accused.
Patel’s attorney, Tumi Mokwena says the case has been withdrawn due to a lack of evidence.
Read more:
Rameez Patel faces another murder charge
Rameez Patel: ‘assaulted victim with a hockey stick’
