Barbie getting bail is 'sick'
2010-02-24 22:40
Pretoria - The Child Abuse Action Group on Wednesday welcomed the seven year jail term imposed on convicted child molester Cézanne Visser, known as Advocate Barbie, but described her bail pending appeal as "sick".
It was sad in view of the sex charges against Visser, that she had been convicted, given "more than a fair sentence" yet still wanted to appeal, said Child Abuse Action Group director Lucy Redivo.
"What are we telling those children? They don't have a chance to appeal," she said.
Judge Chris Eksteen turned down an application by Visser for leave to appeal against his findings on the merits of the case, but extended her bail pending an application to the Supreme Court of Appeal for leave to appeal.
He increased her bail to R10 000 and ordered her to surrender her passport.
She would have to report to the Registrar of the High Court to start serving her sentence within 48 hours if her application did not succeed.
Mom evades reporters
Visser's mother, Susan Lemmer, tried to evade reporters after paying in the extra R5 000 bail on behalf of her daughter.
When she bumped a photographer on leaving the court, her husband sexologist Johan Lemmer apologised, saying his wife was under severe pressure.
Lemmer had hugged her and supported her in court when she started crying on hearing that her only child would go to jail.
Graphic designer Laurie Pieters, whose evidence played a role in Visser's conviction, said Visser's mother had asked her how she managed to sleep at night.
Little sympathy
She had replied that she slept well because she had not molested children.
"I knew her (Cézanne Visser), but she lied to me so much I don't think I really knew her.
"Part of me feels a little bit sorry for her, but I think she's a desperate person.
"I really believe children have to be protected, but she chose to prey on children. No, I don't believe I actually feel much sympathy for her," Pieters said.
During Visser's trial, Pieters testified that Visser's former lover, Dirk Prinsloo, was a narcissist and a bully, but that he backed off when confronted.
She told the court Visser had refused all her offers of help to get away from Prinsloo, had told Pieters he made her happy and that she was having great sex.
Appeal court 'may feel differently'
State prosecutor Andre Fourie was satisfied that the sentence imposed on Visser would send the message that the courts would not tolerate the abuse of women and children.
Should she choose to appeal her sentence, the State might counter appeal, he said.
Visser's advocate Johann Engelbrecht SC, earlier told Eksteen that he believed the Supreme Court of Appeal could reach a different conclusion on the case.
He suggested that it might find that Visser's actions were justified because she was a battered woman under the coercive control of a sexual sadist when she committed the crimes.
"It's not the end of the road," Engelbrecht he told reporters outside the court.
- SAPA