CEO nabbed for wife’s killingThe husband of Susan Rohde, whose body was found in a bathroom of an upmarket Stellenbosch hotel, has reportedly been arrested in connection with her murder.
Western Cape police would only confirm to News24 that a 47-year-old man had been arrested in Johannesburg around 06:50 on Tuesday, but the man’s lawyer confirmed his arrest to Netwerk24.
Jason Rohde, 47, is the chief executive officer of Sotheby International Realty.
He was expected to appear on a charge of murder in the Stellenbosch Magistrate’s Court soon, said Captain FC van Wyk.
Netwerk24 reported that Rohde, who was arrested at his home in Bryanston, would initially appear in the Randburg Magistrate’s Court. He faces an additional charge of obstruction of justice.
Susan Rohde, 47, was found dead at the Spier Wine Estate on July 24. Sotheby’s had hosted its annual conference at the venue for the weekend.
Her husband’s lawyers previously told News24 they had commissioned pathological and forensic reports after his wife’s death was ruled as murder.
The reports would include toxicology and histology analyses - the study of the anatomy of cells and tissues - and more thorough examination of the X-rays, Rohde’s lawyer Daniel Witz said at the time.
Following the initial registration of an inquest docket, the results of the State pathologist’s post mortem led to the cause of her death being changed to murder.
Witz said that according to his client, he and his wife had woken up together that Sunday morning.
“She went into the bathroom to get ready and he fell asleep. When he awoke to get ready for a breakfast talk, he was unable to open the door,” he said.
Hotel maintenance was called to assist. Once opened, he found his wife hung behind the door, he told News24.
Allegations of the couple being involved in an argument at the hotel’s bar on Saturday night, where Susan apparently “stood in public and said she knew he was having an affair” were irrelevant, Witz argued.
The couple have three daughters - an 18-year-old and twins who are 16.
NEWS24