The High Court in Polokwane, Limpopo, has postponed the murder trial against businessman Rameez Patel. The case has been postponed to 4 January 2022, where it is has been scheduled for 10 days.
Patel is accused of killing his first wife, Fatima, in 2015. The case was postponed for further hearing of the defence’s case.
Patel appeared briefly at the High Court. Judge Joseph Raulinga, who presides over the matter, was unavailable.
Patel was accompanied by his wife, Nasreen Patel. Judge Maake Kganyago stated that the matter would be heard at the same court next year.
National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) spokesperson in Limpopo, Mashudu Malabi-Dzhangi, says the state is ready to start with the trial.
“Today we were supposed to proceed with the murder trial of Rameez Patel, but the matter has been postponed to the 4th of January 2022 for further hearing on the part of the defence’s case. At this stage, we don’t have the presiding officer who will take the matter forward, so they are still going to make arrangements for that.”
Meanwhile, Patel’s defence lawyer Advocate Meshack Thipe says the postponement will give them enough time to prepare their case.
“I think the time is more than sufficient for us to conduct the defence case. We have already started with the defence case. Mr Patel has testified, and he has been cross-examined. All that is left is a possible re-examination and we are intending to call around four witnesses. Their evidence is too short, and we should be able to wrap up evidence on the part of the defence case in January.”
The matter has been before the court for several years, predominantly due to a change in the accused’s defence team and outstanding evidence.
Another murder case against Patel for allegedly killing his 51-year-old mother, Mahajeen Banu-Patel – who was one of the key witnesses to the trial, has been provisionally withdrawn.
