Rapist Hewitt jailed for six years
WHEN Bob Hewitt was convicted in March on two counts of child rape and one of indecent assault, the excitement in the Gauteng Division of the High Court sitting in Palm Ridge was palpable.
Suellen Sheehan, the woman the former tennis champion had raped when she was a child, ran from the courtroom to conceal her tears of joy.
But yesterday, when Hewitt was sentenced to six years in prison and ordered to pay a fine of R100 000 to fund anti-abuse campaigns, the complainants’ happiness was dulled by the decision to give Hewitt a last night of freedom.
Sheehan and another complainant, Theresa “Twiggy” Tolken, had expected Hewitt to be taken immediately to prison – the last bit of closure they needed.
But Judge Bert Bam, while providing a damning judgment that characterised Hewitt as a “violator of children”, granted Hewitt’s legal team’s request that his bail be extended until today, when he applies for leave to appeal the conviction and sentence.
Tolken and Sheehan’s faces dropped when they realised that rather than being taken from the court in handcuffs, the 75-year-old would be able to spend a final night with his wife Delaille instead.
Hewitt was convicted in March of raping Sheehan and Tolken during the 1980s, and indecently assaulting a third complainant in the mid-1990s.
Tolken, who flew in from her home in New Zealand for
the case, said she would provide a statement after today’s application, but Sheehan spoke to Cape Times sister paper The Star.
“I’m disappointed he didn’t go today, but I am happy that he’ll be in prison,” she said.
Sheehan said that despite her parents testifying against her during the trial, a court of law had vindicated her.
“I’ve been believed. That’s all that matters,” she said.
Patrick Solomons, from child’s rights organisation Molo Songololo, said parents needed to be assured their children were safe. Parents could request police clearance certificates from coaches, Solomons said. He was pleased with the conviction and lauded the women for coming forward years later.
Childline director Ricki Fransman said: “It is not easy to report such cases. However, if the rape is not reported it may put other children at risk. We would like to commend the victims for coming forward.”
Tennis SA spokesperson Bruce Davidson said: “We are not issuing any statements and these are orders from the director.”