'I'm not a Barbie'
2005-02-16 13:39
Pretoria - Pretoria advocate Cezanne Visser, widely known as "Advocate Barbie" plans to make her nickname the topic of a civil claim against the media at the conclusion of her sex crime trial, the Pretoria High Court heard on Wednesday.
Her advocate Gerhard Botha, told the court his client objected to being likened to the busty, blond plastic doll.
She was also not happy about being compared to Saartje Baartman, a Khoi woman displayed in Europe for her physical appearance.
The comparison was made in a commentary piece published in the Beeld newspaper on Tuesday.
Andre Fourie for the State, objected to the column in court on Wednesday morning, saying it amounted to contempt of court.
He complained about references in the newspaper piece about Visser being handcuffed in court, which was not true.
There was also an incorrect reference to "pornographic videos" being shown in court daily.
The author, Jeanne Goosen, a freelance columnist, made reference to a 14-year-old girl allegedly raped by Visser and her lover Dirk Prinsloo - saying the girl had a history of prostitution and drug abuse.
The character of a witness
This was an attack on the character of a witness, Fourie argued.
It also implied that it was acceptable for a 14-year old, when she was a prostitute or drug addict, to be sexually molested.
Goosen referred to the trial as a medieval funfair where perverts could indulge their fantasies ad infinitum.
This was a direct reflection on the court, Fourie said.
Botha said his client had adopted a fatalistic approach to the media coverage of the trial, saying she was used to being persecuted by journalists.
Much of the reporting had been inaccurate, he claimed.
His client was reserving her rights with the view to a civil claim in future.
Judge Essop Patel is to make a ruling on the matter after the tea adjournment.
- SAPA