Rape of girl premeditated, State argues
NPA to ask judge to impose life sentence
THE National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) said it had advanced its efforts to prove that Nicholas Ninow’s intention to rape an 8-year-old girl at a restaurant in Pretoria was premeditated.
The child, who was raped in September last year at the Dros restaurant in Pretoria, contradicted Ninow’s version of events in the North Gauteng High Court yesterday. The attack happened when she was 7.
Both the mother and child took the stand, with their identities concealed. The child testified first on a CCTV monitor in a closed courtroom. The mother gave her testimony in another room, and only her voice could be heard.
NPA spokesperson Phindi Mjonondwane said the child gave the court a different version from what Ninow initially said in his plea explanation.
“From the child’s testimony, the accused followed her to the toilet.”
Mjonondwane said they could prove that by following the child, Ninow already had an intention to harm her.
According to Ninow, 21, he grabbed the girl after she walked in on him, as he was hiding in the women’s toilets to use drugs.
Earlier, the mother told the court how she was assisted to forcibly push the door open to rescue her child from Ninow, who did not want to open the door.
The mother said her child cried out for help when she called out her name while she was looking for her, saying: “Mom, please help me.”
She explained that she was still traumatised by the events of that day.
“I’m not okay with what I have witnessed… I don’t think I’ll ever be okay.
“I’ll continue going for counselling, together with my child,” she said in-between sobs.
On Monday, Ninow’s legal representative, Herman Alberts read Ninow’s statement to the court, in which he admitted guilt on three of the four charges against him.
He plead guilty to two counts of rape, possession of illegal substances and defeating the ends of justice, but not guilty to assault.
The trial continues today for both sides to present their closing arguments.
The NPA has indicated that it would be arguing for a sentence of life imprisonment.