Teen rape accused to be mentally assessed

A teenager accused of a horrific kidnapping and rape will see a psychologist before standing trial after his lawyer said it needed to be established if the boy, who was 16 when he and another man allegedly attacked a woman waiting for a lift to work, would be able to understand the court process.

The teenager, along with a 26-year-old man, is charged with rape, kidnapping, “pointing of anything which is likely to lead a person to believe is a firearm” and robbery with aggravating circumstances.

Neither of the accused can be named as the teenager is a minor and the other man has not yet pleaded to the charges.

According to the charge sheet, at around 6am on July 17 2017, the woman, who may not be named as she is an alleged rape victim, was waiting near her Bell Road, Gelvandale, home for her transport to work, when a white VW Golf stopped and two males jumped out of the car.

“One, wielding what is alleged to be a firearm, grabbed the woman and forced her into the car while the other man grabbed her handbag,” it says.

It is believed there were three males in the car.

The car then stopped at the Gelvandale Sports Ground, where the two males and the woman got out before the car was driven off.

The woman was then allegedly led to a nearby bushy area and raped by the two.

After the rape, the teenager allegedly fled, leaving the 26year-old and the woman behind.

At some stage, the woman received a call from her employer, which the man is said to have answered.

When the woman’s employer called again, the phone was switched off and the man then allegedly robbed the woman of her watch and earrings.

The man has been in custody since his arrest, while the teenager was released on bail and is under house arrest.

On Wednesday, the 17-yearold’s defence advocate, Jodine Coertzen, told the Port Elizabeth High Court that the boy had been scheduled to consult with his psychologist on Tuesday, but the appointment had been cancelled at the behest of the mental health practitioner.

“I spoke to the psychologist, who said he would give a short report [to determine if the accused could understand court proceedings],” Coertzen said.

The teenager’s family claimed that he had attended a school for youngsters with learning disabilities and had difficulty in comprehending certain things, Coertzen said.

Coertzen told judge Glenn Goosen that the teenager was scheduled to see his psychologist at 4.30pm on Wednesday.

Goosen agreed to postpone the matter to Thursday.