Lawyers get more time in child porn case
2012-01-16 20:25
Pretoria - Nine people facing a string of charges ranging from sexually assaulting children to making child pornography will return to court in March.
Their trial in the Pretoria North Regional Court was postponed on Monday.
The nine were due to stand trial in early December last year, but the case had to be postponed after it became apparent that three of the accused could not afford their lawyers and had to apply for legal aid.
The matter was postponed to March 1 to allow the new counsel to be instructed by their clients and for disclosure of the evidence against their clients.
The nine face charges of rape, indecent assault, sexual grooming of children and possession, manufacturing and distribution of child pornography. Eight of them were arrested in late in 2010.
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 last year 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 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
