Cezanne Visser, convicted in October 2009 of 11 of 14 sex-related charges including soliciting a 15-year-old to perform indecent acts, indecently assaulting 11-year-old and 14-year-old girls and the possession and manufacture of child pornography, has begun leading evidence in mitigation of sentence in the Pretoria High Court.

Visser also known as Advocate Barbie, called forensic criminologist Ian Sonnekus who confirmed that she has indeed shown remorse for the sex related crimes for which she was convicted.

He said that during the trial the accused had confirmed to the court that she "judged" herself. Furthermore during their many consultations following the guilty verdict Visser had told him that she was no longer susceptible to male manipulation. This is in accordance with the version given by her during the trial where she argued that she had only performed and assisted Dirk Prinsloo in performing sexual acts on minors because she was under his spell.

Prinsloo, an all round winner, was sentenced to 13 years in prison by a Belarus court last month for theft, assault and attempted bank robbery. Once he has completed that he can look forward to facing these and other sex-related charges in the High Court in Pretoria.

Turning to the trauma suffered by the victims Sonnekus said that Visser believed the situation was unfortunate. Had it been her own child it would be unacceptable and she knew "it must have been bad for her. She didn't expect it and she could have experienced it as being traumatic," Visser had told him.

All of this led Sonnekus to the conclusion that Visser not only showed remorse but had also gained wisdom.

Johann Engelbrecht SC for the accused then asked Acting Judge Chris Eksteen to factor in that she was also a first offender.

The court will take into account the crimes, the criminal and the interests of society when arriving at a sentence.

In light of the nature of the charges the state will be seeking a substantial sentence and the bulk of that to include a term of imprisonment.



Sapa-RS