The murder trial of alleged wife killer, Rob Packham, 58, is on hold until April as the Western Cape High Court is in recess.
Packham’s defence team was expected to call two police officers to the stand yesterday as they commenced with presenting their case, but proceedings were cut short after one witness did not pitch.
Packham is currently on trial for the murder of his wife, Gill, 56, whose body was found in the boot of her burnt-out BMW on 22 March 2018.
Defence advocate Craig Webster told the court that the second cop was currently away overseas and called Warrant Officer Steven Young.
Young told the court that he commissioned the statement made by Keanon Thomas who testified that he saw Packam driving away from the scene of the burning car on the night of the murder.
Webster questioned the process followed and why Young commissioned a statement that he did not take himself.
Young explained his colleague took the statement from Thomas and typed it up and came to his office to print it with Young’s details.
He says the statement was read back to Thomas in front of him and after he told the cops he agreed with the contents, they signed it.
Thomas later identified Packham as the man he saw driving away from the scene during a photo identity parade.
Judge Elizabeth Steyn said the trial would commence again on 15 April where it is expected that Packham will take the stand in his own defence.