Jason Rohde was sentenced to 20 years behind bars for murdering and staging the suicide of his wife Susan. Businessman Jason Rohde learned his fate when Western Cape High Court Judge Gayaat Salie-Hlophe sentenced him. His mother, Brenda Rohde and other family members also attended the proceedings. Photo: Armand Hough / African News Agency(ANA)
Jason Rohde headed to Supreme Court of Appeal after bail bid rejected
The judge did not feel Jason Rohde’s defence presented any new evidence that would convince the court to change its mind about granting him bail.
Jason Rohde was sentenced to 20 years behind bars for murdering and staging the suicide of his wife Susan. Businessman Jason Rohde learned his fate when Western Cape High Court Judge Gayaat Salie-Hlophe sentenced him. His mother, Brenda Rohde and other family members also attended the proceedings. Photo: Armand Hough / African News Agency(ANA)
Convicted murderer Jason Rohde’s hopes of being released from prison now rest with the Supreme Court of Appeal (SCA) after the Cape Town High Court rejected his bail application.
Jason Rohde begging for bail
Rohde was hoping the Cape Town court would consider releasing him on bail after the SCA granted him permission to appeal his conviction and his belief that he had a reasonable chance of winning the appeal.
“I am advised and verily believe that another court considering the record of the proceedings and the judgment could come to a different conclusion and finding in respect of the convictions as well the sentences imposed – and accordingly I am advised by my legal representatives that there are indeed good prospects of success on appeal against both my conviction and sentences imposed,” he said in a document to the court.
Jason Rohde
Additionally, Rohde is convinced he needs to be released from jail in order to look after his three children and halt a potential hostile takeover of his business.
“I have been incarcerated for a period of eight months since November 8 2018. The prejudice in terms of caring for the emotional and financial needs of my three children, as set out hereinafter, as well as rescuing and/or salvaging my business has been immeasurable,” he said.
Jason Rohde
Judge unconvinced once again
However, judge Gayaat Salie-Hlophe felt the defence had presented nothing new from previous bail applications in November 2018, shortly after his conviction, and again in April 2019, so could not grant bail purely on the fact the SCA had granted Rohde leave to appeal next year.
Rohde is currently service 20 years in prison for the murder of his wife, Susan, at the luxury Spier wine estate in Stellenbosch where they were staying while he attended a conference related to his business.
She was found dead inside a locked bathroom, strangled by the iron cord that was still around her neck. Rohde has always maintained his innocence and claims she took her own life.
Conflicting version of events
The courts believe a different story, though, and convicted Rohde because they felt he had orchastrated an immense cover-up, including hiring actors apparently, to protect himself from the consequences of the heinous act.
During the trial it was revealed that Rohde was involved in an extra-marital affair that was causing immense strife to their marriage as Susan had found out about it.
Tags:
