NPA awaits report on “collusion”
Last week the SABC reported that it was in possession of correspondence e-mails which showed the three woman who accused Hewitt of rape and sexual assault may have colluded prior to his trial.
The National Prosecuting Agency (NPA) is awaiting a report on “leaked e-mails” which allegedly show that the victims of former tennis star Bob Hewitt colluded before testifying against him earlier this year.
“Once we have received this report on the leaked emails, we will be able to take a position on this matter. We will then decide what action to take,” said the NPA’s spokesperson, Mr Luvuyo Mfaku.
Last week the SABC reported that it was in possession of correspondence e-mails which showed the three woman who accused Hewitt of rape and sexual assault may have colluded prior to his trial.
In March, Hewitt was found guilty on two counts of rape and one of sexual assault.
He was sentenced to an effective six years in jail.
In court, the women testified they had had limited contact with each other and never discussed the case.
The national broadcaster reported that in correspondence between rape accuser, Ms Suellen Sheehan and state prosecutor Carina Coetzee, Coetzee warned Ms Sheehan that her contradictory statements could compromise the case.
Following the SABC’s report, the NEWS requested comment from Ms Sheehan who referred the NEWS to Women and Men Against Child Abuse (WMACA).
The WMACA stated that the only tactic left for Hewitt’s defence lawyers is to attack and discredit the victims again.
“After their many efforts to undermine these women in court, they now resort to using the media to shame them even more. Hewitt has shown no remorse for his deeds and now clearly displays a total lack of any consideration for the victims.
“Let us not forget that when Heather Conner (in the USA) disclosed her abuse at the hands of Hewitt, the other victims, realising they were not the only ones, naturally made contact with each other and shared experiences, but that is not collusion – at no point was there a secret strategy discussed or planned for a trial. Surely, Rolf Harris and Bill Cosby’s victims have all made contact with each other – it is healing and comforting to know that after all this time of internal turmoil you are not alone,” said the WMACA spokesperson, Ms Germaine Vogel.
“The SABC article is disappointingly irresponsible. Correspondence between a witness and a Prosecutor is definitely not unusual. The reporter should have provided context at the very least.
“Nowhere did anyone strategise to get a successful conviction and actually they were sharing the emotional challenges around their abuse.
“Right now there is an investigation underway by the NPA to see if any of the legislation in the telecommunications act has been violated, at which point the NPA will prosecute.
“The contact between the women was made long before the case went to court, sharing their experiences, and the long term effects of their childhood trauma.
“What does it say about our society when we blame and shame the victims, instead of the offender who was found guilty in a court of law? Surely this man (Hewitt) now needs to accept the fact that he is in fact a child abuser. He is not in the celebrity spotlight anymore. It’s time the defence stops these despicable tactics, which is certainly of great financial benefit to themselves,” said Ms Miranda Friedmann, the director of WMACA.”
The Bedfordview and Edenvale NEWS’ assistant editor, Mrs Charmaine Slater, was subpoenaed to appear in the Palm Ridge Magistrate’s Court when Hewitt stood trial on the rape charges.
Ms Slater was subpoenaed as a result of an article published by the NEWS in January 2012, following an interview she (Mrs Slater) had conducted with Ms Sheehan, who told the NEWS she was sexually abused by Bob Hewitt.
Owing to claims of inaccurate reporting, made at the time of Hewitt’s trial earlier this year, the NEWS then took the decision to take the stand and defend its integrity.
To read all the articles, go to www.bedfordviewedenvalenews.co.za
