CONVICT CONMAN
Showmax
In 2012 investigative journalist Sasha Schwendenwein received a tip about a “model agency boss” named Dawie de Villiers. Nine years later, in 2021, investigative journalist Jana Marx received a tip to look into Michael O’Connor, a man who was about to launch a fashion magazine.
Michael says Dawie is a “good friend”, but what else do they have in common?
In Convict Conman, a new twopart Showmax Original true-crime series, De Villiers is revealed to be a convicted paedophile, jailed in 2017 on 26 charges including rape, sexual assault, accessing child pornography and fraud.
But prison couldn’t stop him. The series is produced by IdeaCandy, which also made Showmax’s documentary hits Devilsdorp and Rosemary’s Hitlist.
Safta-award winner NIKKI COMNINOS makes her directorial debut with Convict Conman.
“It was a wonderful experience working on this documentary series. The story is important, and people were so generous in helping to tell it. I was determined to work hard to present the best version of this story possible,” she says.
Having worked on Devilsdorp and Steinheist, she was asked to take a bigger role, an opportunity she couldn’t turn down.
“I was pleased to work on a story that could shed light on the issue of sexual abuse, and its lasting impact on people’s lives.
“Living in a country plagued by gender-based violence makes it a meaningful and necessary story.
“I was also excited to celebrate the brave women who helped bring this man to justice.”
The documentary features a variety of voices. “We speak with the police, survivor-victims, and legal and media analysts who examine how society allowed this to happen,” Nikki says.
“It’s a story that will make you angry but also warm your heart. It’s a wild ride full of twists with real people and deep emotions.” – JODI LYNN TAYLOR