Victim too emotional to be lying about rape, says State
JOBURG modelling agency boss Dawie de Villiers’s testimony in his rape, sexual assault and fraud trial was contradictory, suggesting that he was being dishonest, the State submitted yesterday.
Prosecutor Arveena Persad recalled that the alleged rape victim had cried throughout her testimony, which lasted three days. She wouldn’t have been able to do that if she had been lying.
“One could see in her eyes and the condition she was in that that was one of a victim,” Persad said.
De Villiers is facing charges of rape, sexual assault, sexual grooming, intimidation, fraud and possession of child pornography in the Palm Ridge Magistrate’s Court. He has pleaded not guilty.
Judge Cassim Moosa asked the State what it made of the victim not reporting the incident to her father immediately.
“She said if she informed her parents they would stop her from modelling, which is what another model said when testifying against De Villiers, who allegedly tried to kiss her,” Persad said.
“Remember the BBM messages where De Villiers said he recorded them having sex?
“She saw the laptops and saw him open them, so she then told the court that she had consensual sex with De Villiers twice before the rape occurred. She didn’t know the law, she was only 16.
“This witness did not lie about the rape.”
Judge Moosa asked Persad what she made of the victim visibly becoming more upset during her testimony and whether it was part of an alleged plot against De Villiers.
“At that point a ploy wasn’t put to her; the conspiracy theory built up after that and doesn’t make sense,” Persad responded.
“She could’ve easily given up if she was lying and reached a point where she would’ve had enough. She said it was too painful to read her statement. She revealed very personal information, even saying she felt like a prostitute. Those aren’t the words of someone creating a crime,” Persad said.
“Two other witnesses described how much she cried when she spoke to them. She didn’t only get emotional in court.”