A child complainant in the sex-crimes trial of Pretoria advocates Cezanne Visser and Dirk Prinsloo had confessed to attempting blackmail others in the past, the high court heard on Thursday.
Prinsloo’s advocate Piet Coetzee asked investigating officer Captain Carel Cornelius whether he was aware the girl had previously laid a charge against other people. She later admitted having done so merely to blackmail them, Coetzee said.
Cornelius said he had heard such rumours but had no factual knowledge of the claim.
The girl, 14 at the time, has accused Prinsloo and Visser of drugging her in July 2002, indecently assaulting and raping her, and taking pictures of the incidents.
Cornelius was also questioned about claims that the girl was involved in child prostitution at the time, used drugs and had behavioural problems.
Visser, dubbed ”Advocate Barbie” for an apparent likeness to the blonde, busty, plastic doll, faces 15 charges of sexual violations of women and girls, and Prinsloo 16.
The charge sheet lists two counts of rape, four of indecent assault, three of enticing a minor to commit indecent acts, one each of fraud, sexual exploitation of a minor and possessing child pornography, two of manufacturing such material, and one of possessing dagga.
Four of their alleged victims were minors.
Prinsloo faces an additional charge of assaulting one of the complainants.
The couple are out on bail of R4 000 each. — Sapa