Judgment in the trial of a Dutch woman who allegedly sexually abused two boys and a girl was postponed for the second time in the Cape Town Regional Court on Monday when the magistrate took ill.
Judith van Zundert (24) had pleaded not guilty to seven charges before Magistrate Wilma van der Merwe. Van der Merwe heard final argument from the prosecution and defence in February, and postponed the case to March 18 when she was to have delivered judgment.
However, she fell ill and on March 18 the case was postponed to May 20 for judgment.
On Monday, Van Zundert appeared briefly before another magistrate, who postponed the case to June 19, when Van der Merwe is expected to deliver judgement.
Van Zundert was attached to a Dutch sport-outreach programme aimed at sport development in rural areas, and is alleged to have abused the three children at the home of the family in Clanwilliam who hosted her.
She has pleaded not guilty to three charges of indecent assault — two involving boys aged five and six, and one involving a 14-year-old girl. She has also pleaded not guilty to two counts of assault with intent to inflict grievous bodily harm.
On the assault charges she is alleged to have injected the boys with a sexual stimulant which caused dizziness. The sixth charge related to alleged enticement, by way of simulated sexual acts performed by Van Zundert. In his closing argument, Prosecutor Pedro van Wyk urged the court to reject Van Zundert’s defence of outright denial of the charges, and to find her guilty on all counts.
Defence counsel Juanita Theron contended that there was no proof on any of the charges.
She said there were too many contradictions in the testimony of the alleged victims, for the court to make any ruling of fact. – Sapa