Two child witnesses, who have already testified against Cezanne Visser, or ”Advocate Barbie”, might have to testify again, the Pretoria High Court heard on Tuesday.
Defence counsel, Johann Engelbrecht SC, told Acting Judge Chris Eksteen, Visser would contest the evidence of two girls, aged 11 and 14 at the time, as well as a witness to whom one of the girls had revealed her alleged sexual abuse.
Both girls testified behind closed doors about their alleged sexual abuse at the hands of Visser and her former lover, Dirk Prinsloo.
Prinsloo has since disappeared while on a trip to Russia.
Visser’s trial had to start afresh after the initial trial judge died in 2007.
Engelbrecht said his client would contest the 11-year-old’s evidence about the use of a vibrator, the fondling of her private parts, that she was forced to undress and allegations that Visser had pulled or dragged her around.
She would also contest all aspects of the 14-year-old girl’s evidence.
He revealed Visser would be asked to testify in detail about the infamous ”red album”, which has been kept under lock and key since the start of the first trial four years ago. The album apparently contains 295 photos, mostly of a sexual nature, including 12 photos showing Visser posing naked with two seemingly minor girls.
Prosecutor Andre Fourie asked for a postponement so that the state could try to find the three witnesses and consult with them, to possibly recall them to the witness stand.
On Monday, Visser made a list of admissions about evidence already presented in the trial, as well as pornographic and other material confiscated by police during a raid at Prinsloo’s house in 2002.
Judge Eksteen listed several instances where the court was uncertain about exactly what was being admitted and gave the state and defence another chance to clarify the admissions.
Visser has denied guilt on 14 charges, ranging from fraud, soliciting minors, committing indecent acts to indecent assault, rape and manufacturing child pornography.
She claimed to have been under Prinsloo’s control to such an extent that she ”had no will of her own” while the alleged crimes were committed and could not be held responsible for her actions.
The trial would continue on Wednesday. — Sapa