Alleged wife killer had rights violated, court told

Speaking during Patel’s bail application, Tumi Mokwena called for the court to disregard a statement obtained from him during his arrest, claiming police had violated his right to remain silent.

He said police took Patel's statement despite him not knowing what charges he faced or having a lawyer present.

Patel has been in court since April 16, after being arrested and charged with killing Fatima. She was beaten, strangled, and shot in the couple’s rented flat in Nirvana, Polokwane, on April 10.

Mokwena told the court the Indian-born businessman was not a flight risk, despite the fact that he had relatives in India and the United Kingdom. He owned 10% of his father's company and both his parents were South African residents.

"South Africa is a rainbow nation comprised of multinationals and Patel must be treated as South African, not an Indian."

Mokwena said the State had yet to prove that no intruder could have entered the couple's flat, despite the fact that Patel was believed to be the only one with the key.

"To date the court has not been told why the accused murdered his wife. It is a mystery. The only thing we are told is that he bathed, he buried his wife in Thohoyandou, he also changed clothes," Mokwena said.

Investigating officer Constable David Nkuna previously told the court that Patel took a bath to wash off his wife’s blood and changed his clothes after Fatima was killed.

Mokwena said Patel bathed because his religion, Islam, did not allow people to mourn while dirty and because he did not want to go to his children with their mother's blood on him.

Magistrate Mohammed Shaik postponed the hearing to Tuesday.

Author : News24 Correspondent

NewsWire ID : 4132

File Photo: Gallo Images