Bernice Moore, a secretary at Springfield Convent School in Wynberg was the first witness to take the stand in Rob Packham’s murder trial today, Monday March 11.
Mr Packham is accused of killing his wife Gill Packham whose charred remains were found in the boot of her BMW at Diep River station last year.
Prosecutor Susan Galloway read out the two count – one of murder which can hold a life sentence, and one of defeating or obstructing the administration of justice.
Ms Moore said she became concerned when her colleague had not turned up for work at 7.30am on February 22. After having tried to send messages to, and call Ms Packham, Ms Moore said she spoke to Mr Packham on the phone at 10.45am on the day Ms Packham went missing.
At the time he was at the school, and Mr Packham said he was on his way up the stairs to the office as he wanted to see who he was speaking to on the phone.
Ms Moore told the court that when Mr Packham entered the office, the other secretary rose to greet him, but she did not.
When Craig Webster SC, acting on behalf of Mr Packham’s attorney Ben Mathewson questioned this, Ms Moore said she had had a “bad feeling” about Mr Packham, whom she had not met before.
The case was adjourned until 2.15pm.