Mom: Jordaan is innocent
2008-06-09 23:14
Pretoria - A mother embraced and kissed the man who raped and indecently assaulted her daughter because she believed he was innocent.
The nine-year-old girl was a friend of murdered Sheldean Human, seven. The two girls had lived with their families in a commune in Pretoria Gardens.
Andrew Jordaan, 26, who was the friend's godfather, took the two girls to a park last year where he played with them on the swings and the merry-go-round.
He then took them home after which he kidnapped, indecently assaulted and murdered Sheldean.
Jordaan was sentenced in Pretoria High Court on Monday by Acting Judge Chris Eksteen to life imprisonment for Sheldean's murder. He found no circumstances to justify a lesser sentence.
Jordaan also was sentenced to three years' for Sheldean's kidnapping and 10 years for her attempted rape.
His sentence included 15 years' imprisonment for the rape of Sheldean's friend and another five years' for indecently assaulting her.
Sheldean's friend's mother sat next to Jordaan's family throughout the court proceedings.
'You exploited her'
When Judge Eksteen said during his verdict that clinical psychologist Professor Wikus Coetzee had testified that Jordaan had raped the friend more than once, the mother merely shook her head.
Judge Eksteen added that Jordaan had pulled the friend into his web and had her caught up in his molestation deeds.
"Apparently you were aware that this young child (the friend) also needed love and support," said the judge to Jordaan.
"You were allowed to be in your room with her where you sought and gained sexual intercourse.
"The experience she had to go through must have scarred her for life. Instead of protecting her, you exploited her. You're not even worth the privilege of being her godfather."
Put in foster care
After Jordaan was sentenced, the mother of Sheldean's friend went with Jordaan's stepmother and three sisters and embraced him and kissed him.
"Andrew is not guilty," the mother said outside the court. He wouldn't hurt children. The truth will still come out."
After she testified in the trial, Sheldean's friend was taken from her parents and placed in foster care, pending an investigation by the juvenile court.
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