Water polo child rape trial set to begin
● Parktown Boys’ High School pupils who were allegedly raped or abused by an assistant water polo coach are expected to testify at his trial from a separate room in court.
The trial starts tomorrow at the Palm Ridge Magistrate’s Court in Katlehong, east of Johannesburg, and is expected to run until September 21. The state prosecutor is Advocate Arveena Persad.
Luke Lamprecht, convener of the Johannesburg Child Advocacy Forum, said the victims would be assisted by intermediaries who could be either a social worker, psychologist, psychiatrist or teacher.
He said according to the Criminal Procedure Act, in cases where witnesses were likely to suffer undue mental trauma they should be placed in a separate room and be assisted by intermediaries.
A camera will link the child and the intermediary to the court room. Questions can only be heard by the intermediary, who relays them to the child “in a language that the child can manage, and the whole court gets to see the child’s reply”.
Lamprecht said for those witnesses who were direct victims, there would “most certainly” be an application for the appointment of intermediaries. The Sunday Times understands at least 10 boys will testify that they experienced direct sexual assault.
In addition to the appointment of intermediaries, the court will be cleared when the boys are giving testimony and only those who are directly involved in the case will be allowed to remain.
Video evidence captured by CCTV cameras in the school hostel for boarders would be deliberated in-camera as the footage would identify the children.
The 22-year-old suspect, who may not be named because he has not yet pleaded, faces 160 charges. These include rape and abuse, and 32 charges of attempted murder relating to choking incidents.
He allegedly tried to strangle or choke his young victims, resulting in a couple of boys losing consciousness.
He was caught on a surveillance camera fondling a 15-year-old in the school’s hostel in November 2016. He was arrested soon afterwards and granted bail a month later.
It is alleged that the accused, who had been one of the school’s star water-polo players when he was a pupil there, touched the boys’ genitals under water on several occasions when they were training.
It is understood some of the choking incidents may have taken place during rough play such as mixed martial arts and wrestling in the hostel.