The Polokwane businessman Rameez Patel has been sentenced to life imprisonment by Limpopo High Court for murder of his wife,Fatima Choomara Patel, happened 10 years ago.
Mashudu Malabi, Regional Spokesperson for National Prosecuting Authority(NPA) in Limpopo confirmed that the Limpopo High Court, sitting in Polokwane, has convicted and sentenced Rameez Patel (38) of Nirvana, Polokwane, to life imprisonment for the murder of his wife, Fatima Choomara Patel (28). He was further sentenced to five years' imprisonment for unlawful possession of a firearm and three years' imprisonment for unlawful possession of ammunition. The court also declared the accused unfit to possess a firearm.
The NPA has revealed that the accused murdered his wife ten years ago after they had arguments because Rameez was cheating and did not plead guilty, and his younger testified against him in court.
"Patel pleaded not guilty when the trial commenced in 2016. The State led evidence showing that the accused and the deceased were married and living together. On 10 April 2015, Fatima Patel was found shot dead in their apartment in Nirvana, Polokwane, following ongoing martial disputes related to the accused's extramarital affairs.
"Police evidence indicated that there were no signs of forced entry at the apartment. The accused initially alleged that intruders were responsible, a version that later changed and was contradicted by the evidence.
“The court further heard that Patel instructed his younger brother, Razeen Patel, to hide a box containing a firearm at a shop after the murder. Razeen testified that the accused threatened to kill him if he disclosed the murder to anyone. He later reported the threats and the confession to the police,” said Mashudu Malabi.
NPA also revealed that the accused attacked the deceased with a cricket bat before shooting her in the head and was released on bail in 2015.
“Forensic evidence presented by Dr Thakadu Mamashela revealed that the deceased died as a result of a gunshot wound in the head and had sustained other injuries before her death. A cricket bat was recovered from the ceiling of the apartment and formed part of the State's case. Patel had been out on bail of R250 000 since 2015, and the matter has been before the courts since the trial began in 2016,” added Malabi.