'Porn parents' on hunger strike
2003-12-01 22:11
Durban - The Russian couple accused of indecently assaulting their children have gone on hunger strikes.
This was revealed at their appearance in Durban regional court on Monday.
The couple were arrested in August after the child protection unit raided their home and confiscated 500 pornographic videos, 300 home videos, 79 DVDs, a laptop and a digital camera.
Some of the footage showed the couple engaged in sexual acts with their eight-year-old son and three-year-old daughter.
The couple also have a two-year-old child and a baby born two days before their initial arrest.
The couple, who may not be named to protect their children, were released on bail, but arrested and placed in custody after investigating officers heard that they posed a flight risk.
The man did not appear in court yesterday and the woman claimed to be too weak to walk into the court from the holding cells.
Because there were not staff to help the woman into court, magistrate Mike Lassich conducted the hearing in the cells.
The woman appeared to have lost some weight since her last appearance.
Lassich postponed the matter until December 17 for the man to be brought to court.
Began refusing food
The man was also apparently on a hunger strike, but this has not been recognised by the department of correctional services because he took liquids and smoked. He apparently has since stopped drinking liquids and smoking.
The department's Vusi Shabalala said he understood the woman had begun refusing food on Friday.
He said her meals were taken to her cell and removed untouched when the next meal was delivered. It appeared she was also refusing water.
Shabalala said a department commissioner had been sent to attend yesterday's court appearance to find out why she was on a hunger strike.
The woman's condition was being monitored.
Meanwhile, the couple are expected to apply to Pietermaritzburg High Court to have their arrests declared invalid and to be set free pending their trial.