Dog-rape claim a lie - court
2004-04-24 08:02
Johannesburg - The 19-year-old girl who claimed her Chinese employers forced her to have sex with a dog lied blatantly, said a magistrate.
This came to light in Kempton Park magistrate's court on Friday when Kenny Wang, 26, and his sister, Sherry, 24, were freed on all charges.
Magistrate Hennie van der Watt ruled in favour of the defence and said the State had failed to produce evidence of guilt.
In addition to the story about the dog, the girl also claimed the Wangs pulled a gun on her and pushed her head into a fish pond.
The Wangs had been charged on four counts of indecent assault and assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm.
Van der Watt said in his ruling that the girl had told blatant lies.
"She did not impress the court at all. She contradicted herself on almost every second sentence. Ninety percent of her answers started with I think," said Van der Watt.
'We have been through hell'
After the ruling, the Wangs left court with broad smiles. Sherry said: "It feels fantastic. It is a huge relief.
"This past year has been a terrible time for the whole family. We have been through hell."
The Wangs' legal representative, advocate D J Joubert, said it was clear the media had caused an uproar about 'absolutely nothing'.
"She led everyone on. She lied right from the start," he said.
The girl's allegations caused up uproar last year in the media and among anti-abuse organisations.
Questions started popping up, however, when animal experts testified it was highly unlikely, although not impossible, for a male dog to have sex with a woman.
Joubert said the girl had been the worst witness he had come across in his career.
At this stage, however, there has been no move to charge her with perjury.
Superintendent Eugene Opperman of the police said it was a pity they had wasted so much money, time and expertise on the case.
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