Following his first court appearance on Monday, murder-accused Rob Packham spent his time in Pollsmoor prison while the schedule of the offences he is alleged to have committed was determined.

Packham has been accused of murdering his wife, Gill, and defeating the ends of justice.

But before he appeared in court today, the Wynberg Magistrate’s Court ruled that photographs of Packham “may not be published because an identity parade has not yet been held,” reports News24.

Magistrate Goolam Bawa made the ruling after some media houses applied for permission to record the court proceedings:

“The face of the accused, either [should not be] recorded, or [it should be] blocked for the purposes of reporting or news purposes, until the State has [concluded] that part of its investigation.”

Bawa did permit recording, but said that “Packham’s face could not be shown and that his face must be blocked out where pictures of him already exist”.

News24 journalist Jenny Evans was at the magistrate’s court and reported that when Packham appeared, he was wearing a “red jersey over blue and white checked shirt, blue chinos, glasses”.

Although no word on why, it was determined that Packham now faces a Schedule Five offence. According Brand South Africa, that means:

If convicted of a schedule 5 offence, the minimum sentence is 15 years for a first offender. Schedule 6 offences include murder, including premeditated murder, the killing of a law enforcement officer, or killing as a result of rape or robbery with aggravating circumstances.

Times LIVE reports on what went down in the proceedings today:

State prosecutor Susan Galloway told the Wynberg Magistrate’s Court on Friday: “It is a serious crime that the accused is being charged with but it is our submission that this alone is not enough reason to keep him in custody.”

Packham’s lawyer Ben Mathewson told the court that his client intended pleading not guilty.

Wearing a red jersey over his shoulders‚ Packham started sobbing softly as Mathewson read out his affidavit which explained that his daughters needed him after losing their mother and that after losing his wife he equally needed his daughters.

His daughters were present in court. He said that his eldest daughter was 27 years old and lived in the UK where she was a teacher and was engaged to be married. His younger daughter is 25 years old and recently graduated from Stellenbosch University.

Packham was granted R50 000 bail and has to stay under house arrest in Constantia.

Conditions include handing over his passport, but he is able to go to work, attend the funeral of his wife (who he has been accused of murdering and whose memorial service happened on Tuesday), and can consult his lawyer.

The case is postponed until May 8.

How very, very awkward this all appears to be, especially since it has been reported that he is a handcuff-and-whip kind of guy.

[source:news24&timeslive]