Paedophile may not appeal

2005-10-07 08:45

Pretoria - A "dangerous paedophile" will not be able to appeal against his conviction and indefinite sentence on charges of sexually abusing young boys.

Pretoria judge Ronnie Bosielo on Thursday turned down Michiel Meintjies' application for leave to appeal. He said it was unlikely that any other court would impose a lesser sentence.

Bosielo in 2003 sent Meintjies to jail indefinitely and ordered that he must be brought back to court after ten years for a further psychiatric report and reconsideration of his sentence.

He said it was imperative that the community, and particularly young children, be protected against Meintjies, who was described in medical reports as a dangerous psychopath and a serious danger to society.

Irresistible sex urge for kids

Meintjies was convicted on thirteen counts of sodomising three young boys and taking nude pictures and showing pornographic material to several young children.

Turning down Meintjies' application, the judge said the accused had himself told the court he had an irresistible sexual urge for young children. He had told the court in clear terms if he was not sent to jail, there was a strong possibility that he would commit these crimes again because he was unable to control his sexual urges.

The bisexual Meintjies admitted during his trial that he had taken nude photos of a number of children, including explicit photos of him and young boys engaged in sexual acts, but insisted he had never indecently assaulted them. He claimed to have had romantic relationships with some of his young victims.

A state psychologist testified that Meintjies, who had a substance abuse problem, was able to stand trial, but there was not treatment to cure him of his sexually deviant behaviour and he would probably always remain a danger to children.

Judge bent over backwards to accommodate him

Meintjies previously spent time in jail for sexually abusing boys, but once again started targeting children after his release.

He based his application for leave to appeal largely on the allegation that he had been unable to follow most of the proceedings because he could not hear properly.

Bosielo, however, said he had bent backwards to accommodate Meintjies when he complained of not being able to hear.

Meintjies, who was reported to have masturbated during a court appearance in the regional court, twice appeared in the high court semi-naked and once had to be carried in and out of court by two policemen because he was so drugged that he could not stand up.

During sentencing procedures, he first tried to inject himself and later let loose with a stream of expletives and started throwing things around, forcing lawyers and reporters to flee the court.

He had to be manhandled out of court and shortly thereafter had to be bandaged after cutting himself with a razor blade.

- SAPA