POLOKWANE – Rameez Patel who stands accused of murdering his wife Fatima, will be back in court in September.
The trial which was set to continue this week in the High Court was pushed back to Tuesday after judge Joseph Raulinga was prohibited from coming to Polokwane from Gauteng by protest action and the closure of some roads. Patel’s advocate Meschak Thipe was also unable to be at court.
On Tuesday, Patel and his acting lawyer appeared before another judge who stood in for Raulinga.
The case was postponed to 27 to 30 September, subject to the date being agreed upon through correspondence between the two judge presidents of the Limpopo and Gauteng High Courts and the availability of Raulinga.
July 12
POLOKWANE – The murder trial of Rameez Patel will continue tomorrow after the case was postponed on Monday morning.
The case against Patel was set to resume today in the High Court in Polokwane however due to the absence of both his advocate and judge Joseph Raulinga, the case was postponed to Tuesday, July 13.
Adv Meschak Thipe has a death in the family while Raulinga did not travel from Gauteng to Polokwane due to unrest along the N1 road.
Patel stands accused of murdering his wife, Fatima, in their home in 2015.
July 10
POLOKWANE – On his second day under cross-examination this week, Rameez Patel told the court that his brother Razeen had asked for his forgiveness for testifying in the case, saying he was “forced” to testify against him.
Patel stands accused of murdering his wife, Fatima, in their home in 2015.
This week, the High Court heard about the existence of a recording that Patel said he had in his possession, in which Razeen seemingly explains that he had been coerced by police officers to change his testimony to imply Patel in the murder. Asked about their knowledge of such a recording, state advocate Lethabo Mashiane, however, refuted the fact. Razeen, according to Patel, has been living with him and his wife since last year.
Earlier this year, it emerged in court that certain records had not been transcribed despite several rulings. These records included the testimony of Patel’s brother. The judge, Joseph Raulinga, subsequently ruled that all recordings should be transcribed by April 31.
Read more: Patel: ‘Soaked’ jacket handed to cops only 5 days after murder
The state furthermore focused on how an intruder could have gained access to Patel’s home, since, as construction work was in progress at time, scaffolding, bricks and other building material could have been regarded as possible obstacles. Patel suggested that construction workers could be responsible for his wife’s murder. It was put to him that no force was used to gain entry to the house.
Patel furthermore denied ever owning a firearm, a statement which three witnesses earlier refuted.
He also denied having washed and put on new clothes before picking up his brother, the nanny and his children at the warehouse before returning to his house on the day of the murder.
Mashiane finalised his re-cross examination and the case is set to resume on Monday.
Also read: Rameez Patel: Law team fight recent arrest
