Date set for child porn family accused
2011-06-09 16:18
Pretoria - Nine people facing a string of charges ranging from sexually assaulting children to making child pornography will stand trial in the Pretoria North Regional Court in December.
At a brief hearing in the Pretoria North Magistrate's Court on Thursday, the group was told their trial would run from December 1 to 9, and again from January 16 to January 27 2012.
They face charges of rape, indecent assault, sexual grooming of children and possession, manufacturing and distribution of child pornography.
Eight were arrested last year. They are a grandfather, 58, grandmother, 57, their two sons from previous relationships, aged 34 and 36, the grandfather's brother, 61, his wife, 42, and their son, who is reportedly mentally disabled. The 26-year-old wife of one of the sons was also arrested.
The ninth person - a 31-year old woman believed to be the wife of accused number eight - was arrested in January near Hammanskraal.
Six children, aged four and older, were allegedly used in sex movies which were then distributed. Four other children were removed from the care of the accused and were sent for psychological and medical examinations.
During the bail applications made in January, the court heard the State was investigating the possibility of links with a child pornography syndicate.
- SAPA
