SA millionaire's acquittal ‘difficult’ for family - Palmarozza’s step-dad

Jack Haye‚ step-father of Lee-Ann Palmarozza‚ whose body was found floating in a swimming pool at a luxury Mauritian resort in December 2014‚ said he was sure as the trial had progressed that the man accused of her death would “walk” but it was still difficult for his family.

Millionaire Johannesburg businessman Peter Wayne Roberts was acquitted of manslaughter by a Mauritian court on Tuesday in connection with the death of Palmarozza‚ his girlfriend at the time‚ his attorney confirmed.

Haye charged that everything that had shown Roberts in a negative light had been thrown out of court.

“Santa [Lee-Ann’s Mother] is not well. She says she is strong but I know her …every single thing that was against him in court was thrown out of court. It was expected‚” Haye said.

Seven out of nine jurors found that Roberts was innocent of any involvement in the death of Palmarozza.

Palmarozza‚ 35‚ drowned in a swimming pool at the luxury Anahita resort on the island on December 29 2014.

Roberts had been detained on the island since Palmarozza's death. He was provisionally charged with her murder which‚ according to Mauritian law‚ allows an individual to be held without being officially charged while the police investigate the case.

Haye said his step-son Shaun told him after he testified that everything he had wanted to say had not been allowed.

“I was the negative one in the family saying that he would walk‚ all the rest were positive‚” said Haye.

Haye added that if Roberts did not do this‚ then who was responsible for the death of his step-daughter.

Palmarozza had been seeing Roberts on and off for a few years when he invited her to join him in Mauritius just after Christmas in 2014 in an attempt to patch things up after their latest spat.

After spending Christmas with her family at their home in Henley-on-Klip‚ near Johannesburg‚ Palmarozza joined Roberts in Mauritius on Boxing Day.

Her body was found floating in the swimming pool at the Anahita resort three days later. Roberts was ordered not to leave the island while the police investigated the case and was arrested on January 2 last year.

Roberts had maintained that Palmarozza drowned while he went back to his room‚ but the local authorities maintained he was involved in her death.

“There is no justice‚ there are no answers‚ there is nothing. Everything in the court showed Lee-Ann was a bad person. She basically deserved to die. That’s how we read it‚” Haye said.

Haye said that the family was planning to bring a civil case against Roberts and the hotel.

- TMGDigital