Grandpa in the dock for assault

A 57-YEAR-OLD Harare man has appeared in court on allegations of violently attacking his son’s six-year-old daughter after she decided to go with her mother, who is estranged to his son.

Jan Pieters (57) was facing physical violence charges when he appeared before Harare magistrate Mrs Chido Garwe.

Pieters is alleged to have violently squeezed his granddaughter’s hand in a bid to forbid his erstwhile daughter-in-law from getting her children from the son’s house.

The minor sustained injuries on her right hand, with notable bruises and bleeding.

The court heard that on June 10 at around 5pm, the girl’s mother Ms Shanay Kloppers, came to her ex-husband’s house and realised that her children had been left in the company of their father’s girlfriend.

The girl’s mother, also a witness in the case, demanded that her children be released into her custody.

This prompted Pieters to attend to the scene.

On arrival, Pieters allegedly took the six-year-old girl and her sister to his car and told them that he was going with them to his house.

The six-year-old girl is said to have told Pieters that she wanted to go to her mother’s house.

But Pieters allegedly held her tightly and squeezed her right arm, causing bruises and bleeding.

The State led the evidence of a medical affidavit to that effect.

It is the State’s case that Pieters tried to shove the young girl into his car, but her mother snatched her back and drove away with her.

The State alleges that Pieters had no right to act in the manner he did.

Meanwhile, the girl’s mother, Ms Kloppers, has obtained a protection order against Pieters to stop him from sending abusive and threatening messages verbally or through any postal or electronic means of communication.

He was also ordered to stop threatening or acting violently towards Ms Kloppers or the children or from contacting her, and not enter her house.