Western Cape High Court Judge Elizabeth Baartman has refused alleged wife murderer Rob Packham's application for leave to appeal the cancellation of his bail. According to a report on the IoL site, Baartman, in written reasons for her decision, said there was ‘no sound or rational basis to conclude that there are prospects of success on appeal’.

Packham is accused of murder and defeating the ends of justice for allegedly killing his wife Gill Packham in February last year. Baartman cancelled Packham's R75 000 bail on 20 December after the state alleged he had tried to make contact with his former mistress, who is a potential state witness, through a mutual friend.

He allegedly typed a letter that was delivered to the security desk at the complex the friend lived in.

Furthermore, he allegedly sent text messages to the friend on 17 October, in breach of his bail conditions.

Defence lawyer Ben Mathewson said the state had not proved that his client was in breach of his bail conditions, and argued that another court may come to a different conclusion.

Baartman shot down Mathewson's argument in her written judgment and said Packham sought to reduce the contravention of his bail conditions to ‘insignificance, without admitting it’.

She said his attitude towards the court order ‘defies logic’. He was not in court and is being held at Pollsmoor prison. His trial has been set down to start on 11 March.

Full report on the IoL site