Bulls player to plead not guilty
A BLUE Bulls under-21 player accused of raping a Port Elizabeth woman intends pleading not guilty on the basis that the sex was consensual.
This emerged during his bail application in the New Brighton Magistrate’s Court yesterday.
The 19-year-old former Grey High School pupil is facing two charges of rape and one of theft of a cellphone following the alleged incident in the early hours of December 28 in KwaMagxaki.
The suspect, who is from King William’s Town, may not be named as he has not yet pleaded.
The two rape charges are connected to the same incident, but include separate acts, while the cellphone was allegedly stolen directly afterwards.
Advocate Terry Price, instructed by attorney Danie Gouws, yesterday argued the player’s bail application in front of magistrate Una Rhodes.
In his lengthy submissions, Price indicated that the accused would be pleading not guilty.
The player has claimed he had consensual sexual intercourse with the 18-year-old alleged victim outside a flat in Central.
He also claimed he was robbed later, on the same night, of more than R1 000 by the woman while they were at a MacDonalds in Cape Road.
Price claimed the woman had consumed substantial quantities of alcohol and had smoked dagga on the night, and that both the accused and the alleged victim had displayed a mutual sexual attraction in front of witnesses.
Police Captain Michael Shanagan, who gave submissions on behalf of the investigating officer who is on leave, said a medical examination conducted at Dora Nginza Hospital showed the woman had suffered a ruptured hymen, meaning she had not had sexual intercourse prior to the alleged incident.
Shanagan said the medical report had also pointed to injuries consistent with assault.
The case was postponed to January 29.