Domestic worker won’t meet alleged attacker Osrin for counselling sessions

Joni was a church-going woman who didn’t want to be associated with Sweat

DOMESTIC worker Cynthia Joni has refused to meet swimming coach Tim Osrin during a judicially sanctioned programme of restorative justice.

Osrin, who has been charged with assault for allegedly attacking Joni in October last year, appeared in court on Friday. When he last took the stand in January, the matter was postponed for the process to take place under the auspices of the SA National Institute for Crime Prevention and the Reintegration of Offenders.

The programme entails counselling sessions aimed at having Osrin and Joni meet to resolve the matter. A proposed plea bargain agreement would then be discussed.

Sex Workers Education and Advocacy Taskforce (Sweat) has also been requested to take part after Osrin apparently said he assaulted Joni because he thought she was a sex worker.

Joni’s employer, Sheila Wilson, said yesterday she refused to meet Osrin and did not want to be associated with Sweat. “Cynthia is just not ready at this stage. The process has been a complete waste of time because she refuses to meet him. It may never happen. Cynthia is very distraught,” Wilson said.

She also said Joni was a churchgoing, conservative woman who did not want to be associated with Sweat. “She was humiliated by the fact that Osrin mistook her for a sex worker,” she said.

On Friday, prosecutor Rahidien Cullis told the court that Osrin could face more charges related to allegedly assaulting a sex worker. The 32-year-old complainant alleged Osrin first confronted her in December 2013, then again in January last year.

Justice Department regional head Hishaam Mohamed said Osrin could also face charges in connection with an alleged security breach on January 20, when he was seen leaving court using a staff entrance to avoid the media. He was allegedly assisted by a court clerk, who has since been suspended.

Osrin’s attorney, Keith Gess, admitted that the restorative justice process was strained. “It will take a while it seems for her (Joni) to meet him. With regard to the new charges, we will plead not guilty,” he said.