Paroled rapist back in court

2008-07-23 18:14

Cape Town - A paroled sexual offender, who allegedly slit his daughter's throat after she saw him assaulting another girl, appeared in the Wynberg Magistrate's Court in Cape Town on Wednesday.

The man was charged with murder, but because he also faced a further charge relating to the sexual assault, may not be named until the start of his trial.

The man, who had three young daughters, had served a lengthy jail term for raping one of the three. He was out on parole when he allegedly slit his eldest daughter's throat.

Welfare officials had persuaded his wife to take him back into their home in Retreat, in the southern suburbs.

At a previous hearing, before Magistrate Hafeeza Mohamed, demonstrators carrying placards protested outside the building against his release on bail. On that day he was scheduled to launch a bail application, but abandoned it.

At Wednesday's proceedings, prosecutor Johan Brand told the court the State was still awaiting the outcome of DNA tests, and that witness statements were also still outstanding.

He was given a postponement to September 3, for further investigation, and would remain in custody until then.

- SAPA