Bulls player makes bail plea on rape charges

Rugby star ‘will lose all’ if detained

A 19-YEAR-OLD Blue Bulls rugby player charged with two counts of rape and one count of robbery is in line for selection for the captaincy of the Under-20 Springbok side for the World Cup Championship in France this year.

Given his “high profile rugby commitments,” he should be released on bail, the New Brighton Magistrate’s Court in the Eastern Cape was told on Friday.

The rugby player is facing charges after an 18-year-old woman opened a case against him on December 28.

The alleged incident took place after a night out in KwaMagxaki in Port Elizabeth. The player, who cannot be named until he has formally pleaded, is from Queenstown in the Eastern Cape.

He desperately wants to be released on bail to get back to his rugby commitments in Pretoria.

During court proceedings, investigating officer Captain Michael Shanagan was cross-examined by defence lawyer Danie Gouws.

Gouws argued that the player should be released on bail as he was also selected to play in the Super Rugby tournament which starts later this month.

Gouws said the rugby franchise wanted the 19-year-old player to be released so he could start training. He argued it was unfair for the athlete to languish in prison for something he probably did not do.

“If he is not granted bail, his club most probably won’t renew his contract. He will not be able to play rugby and will most probably become a pauper and his two-year-old son will suffer. What’s serious is when an innocent person is accused of rape,” Gouws said.

“He will be playing one game in New Zealand, one game in Australia and one game in Argentina. He will be supervised by the CEO and management. It is very easy to get someone back from those countries.”

Gouws

argued

that Makhaya Ntini was accused of rape yet was released on bail and pointed out that President Jacob Zuma was not detained after being charged with rape.

“I was in contact with the CEO, and it seems that, if anything, he will get a fine. They are waiting for him so he can start training and hopefully realise his dream of playing for the Springboks.

“It’s my understanding, from my sources, that he is going to be the Under-20 captain for the World Cup,” said Gouws.

According to Shanagan, on the night of the alleged incident, the complainant and the player had attended a party at a flat in Port Elizabeth Central.

The woman’s statement to Shanagan detailed that the player, and another person, drove her home.

At some stage the athlete needed to relieve himself. When the car stopped, the woman decided to walk home. She claimed that the rugby player came from behind, tripped her and dragged her into the bush where he raped her.

But Gouws said that he was in possession of a voice recording where the complainant could be heard saying that she got out of the vehicle herself and walked home

‘Even Jacob Zuma was not detained

and there was no mention in these recordings that she was dragged anywhere.

Gouws said that the State had a weak case and at trial the woman would be confronted with a “material contradiction”.

He said the woman was also posting information all over social media.

Gouws showed the court a video of the party in Central where alcohol was seemingly being consumed and the woman was allegedly wearing the rugby player’s jersey.

The State’s forensic nurse said the woman had sustained bruising on her legs and breasts and showed tenderness on her face. – African News Agency (ANA)

after being charged with rape.’