Lack of injuries 'doesn't rule out rape'
2012-11-29 22:14
Pretoria - Ina Bonette's lack of serious gynaecological injuries did not mean she was not sexually assaulted and repeatedly raped, a doctor testified in the North Gauteng High Court in Pretoria on Thursday.
Dr Susan Grabe, who specialises in cases involving sexual violence, was testifying in the trial of Bonette's former husband Johan Kotzé and his three co-accused, Andries Sithole, Pieta Mohlane, and Frans Mphaka.
They are accused of murdering Bonette's 19-year-old son Conrad and kidnapping, assaulting, repeatedly raping and attempting to murder Bonette on January 3 this year.
Grabe said research had shown that only between 10% and 30% of all rape victims had any visible injuries.
According to a report by the doctor who examined Bonette after the attack she had swelling and a cut on her genitals.
Grabe said this was to be expected in the light of Bonette's evidence that Kotzé pinched and cut her with pliers and a side-cutter.
She said the fact that Bonette's doctor could not see any anal injuries did not mean her evidence about being sodomised with an object was untrue.
Grabe testified that the presence of cuts and other possible microscopic injuries would have made it much easier for Bonette to contract HIV.
Warrant Officer Hendrik Kruger testified that Bonette had difficulty walking and looked tired when he interviewed her the day after the attack.
Kruger also described the scene at Kotzé's house in Modimolle where Bonette was tortured and her son murdered.
Items at the scene such as the rope used to tie up Bonette and the tools used to torture her were handed in as evidence.
Police found the murder weapon, Kotzé's .22 rifle, on a table in the house. They found two spent cartridges and blood on a wall in the passage, outside the room where Conrad Bonette's body was found.
A note written by Kotzé, in which he described Bonette as a cheating liar who had ruined his life, was found tucked between the pages of a notepad on a table.
Kruger testified that the records of Kotzé's two cellphones had led him to Sithole.
The two cellphones, on which Kotzé had called him 40 times, were in Sithole's possession when he was arrested on January 9 this year.
Kruger also went to bushes outside Modimolle, where Kotzé's car was found. The car's windscreen had been shattered. There was no sign of Kotzé.
He was arrested at the house of one of his friends on 11 January after the friend phoned the police.
Kotzé had a mark under his eye and scratches on his arms and legs.
Kruger said he took him to a doctor because he appeared to be dehydrated.
The court was told that two police psychologists interviewed Kotzé at his request and because Kruger wanted to test the veracity of his admissions.
Mohlane and Mphaka were arrested a few days after Sithole.
The trial continues on Friday.
- SAPA
