State asks for Patel’s bail
The dates 7 to 10 April was set aside for Patel's trial, but the trial has now been postponed for the fourth time.
POLOKWANE – State Prosecutor, Mashudu Mudau, lodged an application to retract the bail of Rameez Patel, who appeared in the High Court again on Friday on charges of murder.
The application will be heard today, 12 April.
Judge Joseph Raulinga also ruled about the postponement of the case, saying a postponement of the case was inevitable and a decision on when the trial will continue will be made known on 19 April.
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In the meantime, he ruled that Patel will see his psychologist again on Monday (10 April) and see his own psychiatrist later that day, while the state had to make an appointment for Patel with a state psychiatrist.
He ruled that reports by the psychologist and both psychiatrists had to be submitted within a month of the ruling.
The ruling followed two days of arguing about the definitions of mental stress and whether it was to be defined as a mental illness or mental defect or being non-pathological and whether Patel is capable or not to follow proceedings in court.
Patel himself said last Tuesday he was able to follow proceedings.
Council for the accused protested that there was no need for Patel to be admitted for psychiatric observation, especially not at Thabamoopo, which was described as dilapidated and degrading to humans.
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Raulinga mentioned the possibility that Patel could be treated as an outpatient. He reiterated that the trial needed to be finalised.
