Els may hear fate this week

2009-11-30 22:04

Pretoria - Judgment in the sexual molestation trial of Afrikaans singer Jurie Els is expected by the end of the week.

Acting High Court Judge Chris Eksteen said in the North Gauteng High Court in Pretoria on Monday he hoped to hand down judgment on Friday.

The trial was postponed for final argument until Wednesday this week.

Els pleaded not guilty to charges of indecently assaulting Robbie Klay and soliciting him to commit indecent acts when he was between the ages of 11 and 16.

He claimed Klay fabricated the charges for revenge, money and publicity and told the court on Monday he "definitely" intended suing Klay for the pain and suffering he had caused.

'Playing the sympathy card'

"He would not have been able to get the amount of publicity that this case generated in any other manner," Els said.

"Until now, Robbie has had the sympathy of the public. It is my impression that he plays the sympathy card."

Els said Klay started out by making a media statement... and thereafter gave "many different versions" of events.

"The complainant's story grew with time. He did not realise that what he probably did out of revenge or greed would grow so much," Els said.

"The thing just snowballed and became totally out of control. The complainant lost control."

'All about money'

Els contended that Klay had charged him "for the money".

"He did not accuse me before (former high jumping champion) Hestrie (Cloete) and I met. When we put our things together, we were so much wealthier," Els said.

"It's all about money."

Els also suggested that the charges may have been a publicity stunt for Klay's planned performances during the 2010 Soccer World Cup.

"It is possible that he uses these sensational fabrications to get publicity to make him a well-known name."

Recreated film's sex scenes

Els said he could not think where Klay could have obtained his detailed knowledge of homosexual acts.

He said he did know Klay had contact with many homosexuals, including his manager in the Cape, known as The Duchess, and had also performed in a gay club.

He suggested Klay may have recreated sex scenes he had seen as a young child in his favourite movie, Basic Instinct, claiming some of the positions Klay had described in court reminded him of scenes in the movie.
 

- SAPA