The child-sex trial of Cezanne Visser, alias advocate Barbie, was postponed on Tuesday because the judge is ill.
Judge Essop Patel was recently released from hospital where he was treated for cancer. He started presiding over the case in the Pretoria High Court about two years ago.
The Transvaal judge president’s office confirmed that Patel is on sick leave.
It is not known when he will be able to resume work.
If the judge is unable to resume his duties, Visser’s trial will have to start afresh before another judge. The state has already closed its case against Visser.
She has been on trial on her own since May last year when her co-accused, her former lover advocate Dirk Prinsloo, absconded during a trip to Russia. He has not been rearrested.
Visser, who appeared thin and was sporting a stylish short blonde hairstyle, appeared relaxed during her brief court appearance on Tuesday.
Judge Willie Hartzenberg provisionally postponed the trial to April 16 when a date will be set for the case’s resumption.
Visser has denied guilt on more than 10 charges including soliciting minors to commit indecent acts, indecently assaulting young schoolgirls and women, being party to the rape of a child and a 20-year-old woman, and the possession and manufacture of child pornography.
Some of the child victims were allegedly picked up at a children’s home under false pretences and taken to Prinsloo’s home. They were allegedly forced to walk around naked, exposed to child pornography and indecently assaulted.
Visser and Prinsloo allegedly had sex in front of one of their young victims.
Some of the victims were allegedly drugged. Visser was last year transferred to a psychiatric hospital for observation after claiming that she was a victim of so-called battered woman syndrome.
A series of experts are lined up to testify in her defence.
Visser is out on bail of R4 000. – Sapa