Cape Town - Cape Town man Ivan “Ice” Jacobs has been found guilty of murdering his wife, Carmen Jacobs.
In the end it was cellphone records that made sure Jacobs was sent to jail.
As the verdict was read, he stared straight ahead at acting judge Stephen Koen, who also found him guilty of dealing in drugs and the illegal possession of firearms and ammunition.
Jacobs appeared in the Western Cape High Court on Wednesday for the second day of his judgement.
His estranged wife Carmen was found dead in her Steenberg home last February.
Jacobs denied guilt and told the court he was at home with his girlfriend, Jacky Fredericks, and his children when Carmen was murdered.
But Jacobs’ phone records painted a different picture.
Jacobs previously told the court he did not remember his own cellphone number.
Judge Koen said the court was satisfied “beyond reasonable doubt that the cellphone number ending in the digits 4438 is the cellphone which is used by Mr Jacobs”.
Koen added: “The phone records conclusively establish that the phone used by Mr Jacobs was used extensively in the vicinity of the Steenberg residence, where Mrs Jacobs was, for a period of around four hours.
“The cellphone evidence of his whereabouts on that evening was strong enough in the view of the court to call for an answer. Mr Jacobs was unable to offer any coherent explanation in this regard.”
Koen said Jacobs killed Carmen because she was in a position to testify against him after police found an arsenal of weapons and drugs inside the boot of one of Jacobs’ cars in December 2013.
“The court concludes beyond reasonable doubt that Mr Jacobs is the murderer of his wife,” Judge Koen said.
“Mr Jacobs knew that Mrs Jacobs would turn against him and that she was in a position to give damaging testimony against him.
“Not only about the assaults that he committed but also in regard to the contraband found... at their Steenberg residence.
“Photographs of the scene [show] that Mrs Jacobs was killed in an extremely violent and brutal manner.
“There was a blood-soaked duvet on the floor, the mattress was soaked in blood.
“The injuries indicate that the person who murdered her intended not only to kill her, but to do so in a manner which would cause extreme suffering.”
Carmen’s twin sister Candice Thomas nodded her head in agreement.
Jacobs is expected back in court on December 30 for sentencing procedure.
Daily Voice