OVERVIEW: Jason Rohde sentenced to 20 years behind bars for murder, staged suicide of wife | News24

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27 Feb 2019

Jason Rohde is seen during sentencing proceedings on the Susan Rohde murder case at the Western Cape High Court. (renton Geach, Gallo Images)

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27 Feb 2019

#Rohde The moment Jason Rohde is handcuffed and taken down to the cells. He appeared emotionless as Judge Gayaat Salie-Hlophe handed down his 20-year sentence. @TeamNews24 pic.twitter.com/kt9OjE6QOA
— Jenna Etheridge (@JennaEtheridge) February 27, 2019

27 Feb 2019

#Rohde I understand that the defence intends appealing both his conviction and sentence. @TeamNews24
— Jenna Etheridge (@JennaEtheridge) February 27, 2019

27 Feb 2019

Court adjourns.

27 Feb 2019

#Rohde BREAKING: Judge sentences Jason to 18 years in prison for the murder of his wife and 5 years for staging her suicide. Three of these five years will run concurrently. Total is 20 years in jail @TeamNews24 pic.twitter.com/XuY91PpoBx
— Jenna Etheridge (@JennaEtheridge) February 27, 2019

27 Feb 2019

Judge wonders how Susan could not have considered her love for her children and other loved ones, and in turn their love for her.

27 Feb 2019

#Rohde Judge details how Jason set up the scene of the hotel room to look like Susan took her own life and how he was "marketing and selling a suicide brand". @TeamNews24 pic.twitter.com/Xrf6gpGUDz
— Jenna Etheridge (@JennaEtheridge) February 27, 2019

27 Feb 2019

#Rohde Judge: "You used your wife's body as a show house to sell the concept that she had taken her own life. Preparation was clearly key and you had one chance to make the impression you wanted." @TeamNews24
— Jenna Etheridge (@JennaEtheridge) February 27, 2019

27 Feb 2019

Judge turns to staging of suicide. She talks about his success in the property world and quotes estate agents: "You get one chance to make an impression and preparation is key... Staging is a key element in selling property."

27 Feb 2019

#Rohde Judge says it is significant that Jason did not call for help immediately. She says all these factors are so shocking and extreme that it warrants more than a 15-year jail term. @TeamNews24
— Jenna Etheridge (@JennaEtheridge) February 27, 2019

27 Feb 2019

Judge: The injuries to her neck show clear grab and scratch marks, deep bruises under the skin with your thumb. Her rib had fractures from you applying pressure to her, probably with your knee. Her lung was injured and blood seeped in. You smothered her.

27 Feb 2019

#Rohde Judge: The injuries were successive and incremental until it was fatal. During the murder, you would have had time to reflect on your conduct, however, you carried on regardless. @TeamNews24
— Jenna Etheridge (@JennaEtheridge) February 27, 2019

27 Feb 2019

Judge: You were her husband, the father of her children, you were supposed to protect her not to inflict harm on her.

27 Feb 2019

#Rohde Judge turns to aggravating factors. She says Jason had the direct intent to kill his wife, who trusted her husband. @TeamNews24
— Jenna Etheridge (@JennaEtheridge) February 27, 2019

27 Feb 2019

It has been 20 years or more since the Supreme Court of Appeal stated that women have the right to freely walk the streets, to enjoy the peace and tranquility of their homes without any fear.

27 Feb 2019

#Rohde Judge says Jason's children have suffered deeply as a result of their mother's death. However, she has also heard they are incredibly strong women and are well loved and cared for. @TeamNews24
— Jenna Etheridge (@JennaEtheridge) February 27, 2019

27 Feb 2019

Judge turns to the interests of community. She says society is faced with high rates of crime and violence against women.

27 Feb 2019

#Rohde Judge says Jason's children have suffered deeply as a result of their mother's death. However, she has also heard they are incredibly strong women and are well loved and cared for. @TeamNews24
— Jenna Etheridge (@JennaEtheridge) February 27, 2019

27 Feb 2019

Judge: On your financial position, your counsel argued that the life of luxury you are accustomed to ought to be considered as a mitigating factor.

"This is with a respect a preposterous and nonsensical proposition... We are all equal before the law."

27 Feb 2019

Judge says that she had asked Jason on the stand: What does the absence of Susan mean to you? "You replied that you had not had time to grieve her death because you were fighting for your life." This contradicts caring nature your friends testified about.

27 Feb 2019

Judge mentions that Jason's response is indicative of his "selfish and self-serving manner" of perceiving his wife's death.

27 Feb 2019

Judge: During the commission of these crimes, one love story trumped all others... yours of malignant self-love. You did not just take Susan's life, you completely disregarded the sanctity of her life, what it meant to her and others who cared about her.

27 Feb 2019

Judge: She suffered in the last moments of her life, eventually succumbing to her death. The murder is excessive and exhibits horrifying aggression.

27 Feb 2019

#Rohde Judge: Your wife's murder was callous, brutal and shocking. Susan died a painful and gruesome death. She did not die instantly. @TeamNews24
— Jenna Etheridge (@JennaEtheridge) February 27, 2019

27 Feb 2019

Judge: Susan suffered in the last moments of her life. You left her to die, and you waited for her to die.

27 Feb 2019

#Rohde Judge: Your psychiatrist, Dr Stoloff, said you are an ambitious and successful person, kind and do not have characteristics of violent and controlling behaviour. @TeamNews24
— Jenna Etheridge (@JennaEtheridge) February 27, 2019

27 Feb 2019

Friends and family have testified that you never showed any signs of aggression.

27 Feb 2019

#Rohde Judge: You have been behind bars for around 3 months and have no previous convictions. Your friends said that you have contributed positively to society, you are a good father and you are kind and loyal to those in your life. @TeamNews24
— Jenna Etheridge (@JennaEtheridge) February 27, 2019

27 Feb 2019

Judge Gayaat Salie-Hlophe: You appear before this court as a first offender.

27 Feb 2019

Judge goes through Jason's personal circumstances and says he has been a successful businessman in the property world.

27 Feb 2019

#Rohde Judge: Both the defence and the State have addressed me on the possibility of a heavier sentence because of aggravating factors. @TeamNews24
— Jenna Etheridge (@JennaEtheridge) February 27, 2019

Both council were given opportunity to address me. They had addressed me in the submission in that regard.

27 Feb 2019

#Rohde Judge: The minimum sentence for murder is 15 years. The court, however, does have the discretion to go with a lesser sentence if there are substantial and compelling circumstances. However, I cannot do so for flimsy reasons @TeamNews24
— Jenna Etheridge (@JennaEtheridge) February 27, 2019

27 Feb 2019

Judge: The court must have a measure of mercy and also think about retribution, prevention, deterrence and rehabilitation.

27 Feb 2019

#Rohde Judge: Now is the time for me to mete out an appropriate sentence. It is not a mechanical process. In each case, the sentence takes into account all factors and strikes a fair balance. @TeamNews24
— Jenna Etheridge (@JennaEtheridge) February 27, 2019

27 Feb 2019

Judge Gayaat Salie-Hlophe: "Punishment should fit the criminal as well as the crime."

27 Feb 2019

#Rohde Judge Gayaat Salie-Hlophe enters. She asks Jason to be patient with her when she mentions case law and legislation. He stands as she begins her sentencing judgment. @TeamNews24
— Jenna Etheridge (@JennaEtheridge) February 27, 2019

27 Feb 2019

Judge Gayaat Salie-Hlophe arrives, proceedings are now under way.

27 Feb 2019

#Rohde Jason exchanges a few words with his mom Brenda before the judge enters. She walked into the courtroom with huge sunglasses. He seems calm now and looks ahead. Follow the live feed here: https://t.co/o0Nw15zW7j (@JennaEtheridge) pic.twitter.com/hwAvc9TqBM
— Team News24 (@TeamNews24) February 27, 2019

27 Feb 2019

Waiting for the judge to arrive before proceedings get under way.

27 Feb 2019

#Rohde Big day today. After 62 days of trial and a guilty conviction for his wife's death, Jason Rohde is expected to hear how long he's being put behind bars for. @TeamNews24
— Jenna Etheridge (@JennaEtheridge) February 27, 2019

27 Feb 2019

Jason Rohde's fate to be revealed as murder trial draws to a close

Businessman Jason Rohde is expected to learn his fate on Wednesday when Western Cape High Court Judge Gayaat Salie-Hlophe sentences him for the murder of his wife Susan.

During closing arguments last week, the State said asked the court to impose more than the prescribed minimum of 15 years in jail for the murder, saying he betrayed his wife's trust and killed her in a violent and cold-blooded manner.

Prosecutor Louis van Niekerk proposed that the court impose a sentence of between 18 and 20 years for the murder.

Read more...

27 Feb 2019

Judge mulls whether Jason Rohde should get more than the 15-year minimum jail term

The Western Cape High Court should sentence Jason Rohde to more than the minimum 15-year jail term because he betrayed his wife Susan's trust and killed her in a violent and cold-blooded manner, the State said on Wednesday.

During closing arguments, prosecutor Louis van Niekerk proposed that the court impose a sentence of between 18 and 20 years for the murder.

If the sentence for the murder is less than that, he believes the sentence for defeating the ends of justice, by staging a suicide, should not run concurrently.

Read more...

27 Feb 2019

Be lenient to my 'good, kind, loyal' son - Jason Rohde's mother asks court

After waxing lyrical about Jason Rohde's positive qualities, his mother Brenda asked the Western Cape High Court on Monday to be lenient when sentencing him for his wife's murder.

Brenda Rohde, who was called as a witness in mitigation of sentence, said her son could appear "aloof and standoffish" to a stranger, but had a "heart of gold".

She said he had been a very good son to her and her husband, who adopted Jason as his own when he was still young.

Read more...

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