The trial of murder accused Rameez Patel continued this morning (Monday) at the Polokwane division of the High Court. Patel is accused of killing his wife, Fatima, in April last year.
She was found with a gunshot wound to the head in the couple’s apartment and last week State Pathologist Arnold Mamashela’s report indicated that she had been strangled and hit with a blunt object.
Patel pleaded not guilty and alleged that his wife was killed during a robbery.
This morning two Police officers took the witness stand. David Nkuna testified about the position in which he found the body of Fatima and scratch marks on Patel’s neck, which he suspected could have been caused by a struggle with his wife. Lesiba Ramaru testified about the blood-stained clothes of Rameez Patel and the struggle the Police had to retrieve the clothes. Ramaru testified that he asked Patel about his clothes after the murder, when Patel left the scene and allegedly took a bath and put on clean clothes. Ramaru also testified that Patel had told him he did not have a domestic worker but he later found out the couple did have a domestic worker in their employ.
The case continues.
Story and photo: NELIE ERASMUS
>>nelie.observer@gmail.com
Featured photo: Rameez Patel, his uncle Ilyas Patel and lawyer Tumi Mokoena.
