'Susan suffered in silence' – judge in finding Jason Rohde guilty of wife's murder

Susan Rohde's "ill-fated discovery" of her husband's infidelity was followed by "harrowing" months of trauma and suffering leading up to her murder, the Western Cape High Court has said.

Jason Rohde was on Thursday found guilty of murder and obstruction of justice for the murder of his wife at Spier wine estate in July 2016.

The property mogul had arranged the scene of his wife's death to tell a story that she had committed suicide, Judge Gayaat Salie-Hlophe said during her judgment.

MOMENT OF TRUTH: Jason Rohde found guilty of murder

Salie-Hlophe analysed the evidence given by lay and expert witnesses before painting a vivid picture of how Jason had murdered his wife at Spier wine estate in Stellenbosch and then staged her suicide.

It was Susan's discovery of her husband's infidelity that had been the catalyst for the horrifying events that took place.

"Susan's ill-fated discovery was followed by months of harrowing trauma. The emotional hallmarks of infidelity entwined [themselves] like creeping ivy into the lives of those affected," Salie-Hlophe said.

Accused, deceased 'lashed out' at each other

"Ever the perfectionist, Susan suffered in silence, but beneath her exterior she was struggling to cope with her emotions. She felt that her life had been turned upside down."

Although Jason claimed that he had ended the affair with estate agent Jolene Alterskye, Susan uncovered his lie at the wine estate while the couple was attending a conference and the two engaged in a vicious argument.

The very next morning, her body was found in their hotel bathroom.