Mystery deepens in death of CEO's wife

11 August 2016 - 08:43 By NASHIRA DAVIDS

Susan Rohde and her husband Jason fought at a hotel bar on the night she mysteriously died.But, said Jason's legal representative, it was not about an alleged affair he was allegedly having."The argument was about ending the night and returning to their room to go to sleep ... She said everyone had had enough to drink," said Jason's lawyer, Daniel Witz.Jason is the CEO of Lew Geffen Sotheby's International. The company had hosted a function for its staff at the Spier Wine Estate in Stellenbosch last month.It had been reported that she confronted her husband at the bar about an affair but Witz dispelled this. He said after she had told her husband to stop drinking, they retired to their room. Her body was found in the bathroom the following morning, on July 24.Jason allegedly raised the alarm when he could not open their bathroom door. A hotel employee managed to open the door and the 47-year-old mother of three was reportedly found with the cord of a hair straightener around her neck.It was initially reported that she had committed suicide.But last week police spokesman Captain FC van Wyk said an inquest docket had been opened and the investigation "has changed to murder" after a postmortem was conducted.Jason, said Witz, was focusing on his family and his daughters."They are still in shock and mourning. They are sticking together and supporting each other through this very tragic and difficult period," said Witz.He said an independent doctor had been appointed to perform further forensic examinations.Van Wyk confirmed yesterday that police were investigating...

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