'Too traumatised to ID rapist'

2007-08-02 21:38

Scottburgh - The High Court has heard that one of three women raped on the KwaZulu-Natal south coast last year was so traumatised that she had to be led away from an identification parade without identifying anyone.

The report from the identification parade said the woman, who earlier told the court "I didn't feel like I was a part of my body", was submitted to the court after one of the three accused, Sithembiso Shelembe, 23, expressed dissatisfaction with the parade.

Shelembe, Mthokozisi Mbambo, 29 and Wonder Mchunu, 26, are accused of raping her and two other women at a beach-house in Pennington, south of Scottburgh, on December 29 last year.

Mbambo has also been charged with attempted murder. Mbambo was diagnosed HIV-positive "as far back as 2000" according to the indictment.

The report, known as an SAP329 or identification parade form, showed that the woman identified another man before saying: "Sorry, it's the wrong one. I want to look again."

Detective Captain Don Munro who filled out the report told the court on Thursday: "Witness number 2 was too traumatised. She pointed out two people before she started crying.

"I asked her if she was OK, but she said she was not. I led her away from the parade."

'All witnesses were traumatised'

Munro, who held the parade at Durban's Brighton Beach police station in shortly after the three men's arrest on January, said: "Witness 4 was absolutely sure of her three choices. All witnesses showed signs of being traumatised."

Shelembe and Mbambo were identified at the parade by two of the women and one of the men who had gathered at the beach-house for a braai. Mchunu was identified by one of the women.

Advocate Dean Govender said his client, Shelembe, was unhappy with the parade because some one had taken pictures of him before it was held. However, it emerged in court that Shelembe had been asked by Munro, through an interpreter, if he was happy with the parade.

Munro told the court Shelembe had signed the SAP329 eight times.

"If he was not happy, he would have refused."

Earlier in the day the last of the three rape victims to testify said she was told by her rapist to "shut up" or he would "blow her head off" because she was crying.

"I just closed my eyes and tried to calm myself and then someone raped me, I didn't look, I don't know who, because my eyes were closed."

She said that later that night she was raped by Mchunu. Asked how the ordeal had affected her, she said: "It's made me uncertain of myself and scared a lot. I'm always expecting something to happen.

"Like when I'm walking down the road I am always expecting someone to jump out a bush. I wasn't always expecting the worst (before the attack)."

Since the crime her parents "don't always know how to handle the situation."

Asked by Advocate Dean Govender whether she had been mistaken about the identity of Shelembe, she replied: "I saw him. No two people look the same except if he has a twin brother."

- SAPA