Rape charge added to Griekwastad case
2013-02-22 09:57
Bloemfontein - The 16-year-old boy accused of killing a
Griekwastad family on their farm will face an additional charge of rape during
his murder trial next month, Volksblad newspaper reported on Friday.
The report said the charge sheet was handed in at the Northern
Cape High Court in Kimberley where the trial of the boy would start on 11 March.
The boy was arrested for the murders of Northern Cape farmer
Deon Steenkamp, 44, his wife Christelle, 43, and their daughter Marthella, 14,
who were shot dead on the family's farm Naauwhoek on 6 April last year.
The newspaper said the State alleged Marthella was first
raped before she was killed with her parents on the day.
The newspaper said earlier there was speculation over
whether surface bruises to the girl’s genitals could be the result of horse
riding or be related to a possible struggle.
Another charge of defeating the ends of justice was added in
the papers handed to court.
The report said it related to the boy telling lies to the
Griekwastad police about the murders after the incidents on the farm.
The State alleges the boy was the only witness who could
tell what had happened but he made a false statement to police and tried to
mislead them in the process.
The charge sheet would be formally handed in when the trial
starts next month.
- SAPA
