The High Court in Polokwane, Limpopo, is set to begin sentencing proceedings on Wednesday against convicted murderer and businessman Rameez Patel.
Patel was found guilty last month of murdering his wife, Fatima Patel, following a protracted trial that spanned nearly a decade. Fatima Patel was found dead at their home in Nirvana in April 2015.
The guilty verdict was handed down by Judge Joseph Raulinga, who also revoked Patel’s R250,000 bail that had been granted shortly after his arrest in 2015.
Patel’s defence team unsuccessfully applied for the reinstatement of bail shortly before the verdict was delivered. The court ruled that extending his bail would not be in the interests of justice in light of the guilty finding.
Patel has remained in custody as the court prepares to hear arguments in aggravation and mitigation of sentence.