What do you do when you’re banned from contacting your former mistress, because you’re facing charges for the murder of your wife?

Any normal person would probably follow the court’s orders and refrain from reaching out, but murder-accused Rob Packham had a different approach.

Instead, he sent flowers to the married Cape Town woman with whom he had an extra-marital affair, using a fake identity, Richard Hopkins.

The woman immediately “scented deception”, and CCTV footage from her workplace showed that Packham was the flower delivery man.

He didn’t stop there, because he also sent a five-page email using the same identity, in which he revealed salacious details of their affair.

Over to Times LIVE for more on that front:

The e-mail‚ peppered with obscenities‚ depicts the 57-year-old former manager of beverage company Twizza — who is charged with murdering his wife‚ Gill [below with Rob] — as a possessive lover…

In the e-mail‚ he tells the woman that “the dark cave you fear to enter holds the treasure you seek” and urges her to “follow your bliss”.

He said he had already had divorce papers drafted when his wife died and that he had bought the woman a white-gold diamond ring as a sign of commitment.

“He [Packham] showed me a pic of you two at some mountain place in a Jacuzzi‚ you both looked so happy. Nice. It sounds like you too really had something amazing together‚” wrote “Hopkins”.

“He said‚ unashamedly‚ that you thrilled him in more ways than he believed possible. He also mentioned life-altering sex‚ not details‚ but wow.

“He said there is so much he wants to still do with you – sit by the fire‚ listen to the rain in bed‚ walk in the wild flowers‚ walk on the beach‚ go camping‚ share ice cream‚ kiss a lot‚ skinny dip‚ make love and make you happy.”

Just so we are all on the same page here – Packham mailed his former mistress, pretending to be someone else, and attempted to convince the woman to recommence her affair with him.

This while he awaits trial on charges of murdering his wife, with the mistress having turned state witness.

There’s more:

Packham’s fictional character tried to broker peace between the erstwhile lovers. He even offered to get “some off-grid burner mobiles” so they could communicate.

The make-believe Hopkins told the woman that while dealing with his wife’s death and trying to give his two daughters emotional support‚ Packham had been fired from his job and charged with Gill’s murder. He said he had put his Constantia home on the market to “survive and pay bills”.

He blamed the woman for leaving him. “And you still walked out him!? F**k. Did you honestly have to do this to someone you supposedly cared for? I would never usually go near personal stuff but I care for Rob and his wellbeing so much right now‚” the e-mail said.

“Last night he and I drank a lot of wine and then some Jameson and he told me all‚ yes all‚ about you. Now I properly understand where his head was for most of last year. He said you are the best thing that has ever happened to him.”

One cannot help but feel for Rob’s daughters in this whole mess, and it’s unreal that he would continue to communicate with his former mistress, knowing that the details would more than likely emerge.

Clearly, he has only his own interests at heart:

“But why did you have to block him and rip his heart out of his chest when actually you said you were taking a precautionary step back?! S**t.”

Despite the woman having told Packham she did not want anything to do with him‚ and even asking her lawyer to warn him off‚ he persisted.

“Are you upset that he sent you a little flower yesterday? Really‚ are you? Such a sweet‚ kind gesture. He is trying against your hostile attitude‚ he wants to keep the door open.”

The door is closed, Rob.

His latest court appearance saw the high court in Cape Town impose bail conditions that include handing over his “communication devices”, and he is only allowed one shopping trip a week, which may not exceed three hours.

The 57-year-old will remain under house arrest, and is due back in court later this month for his pre-trial conference.

[source:timeslive]