Dros rapist ‘uncle’ did not know Nicolas Ninow

The man who rapes accused Nicolas Ninow introduced to a restaurant waitress as his uncle testified in court that he did not know the 21-year-old until the day of the rape, Rekord East reports.

At the start of his testimony in the Pretoria high court on Monday, the state’s second witness Johan Fourie testified that he and Ninow met in the parking area of Dros restaurant in Silverton when he [Ninow] approached him and said he wanted to speak to him.

Fourie testified how Ninow told him he was a millionaire as his parents had passed away and that Ninow had pointed out a woman and allegedly said he wanted to have sex with her as she had a “lekker g**” [nice buttocks].

Fourie also testified he immediately called the police when he saw a naked and bloody Ninow when he went to the bathroom to find out why there was a commotion.

Earlier, the waitress who served Ninow gave evidence.

The waitress – who requested not to be identified in any way – testified Ninow was seated a short distance away from the children’s play area of the restaurant before Fourie arrived.

She testified that it was only when the childminder, two other waitresses and the girl’s mother came looking for the then 7-year-old that they attempted to open the door of the toilet cubicle which was occupied.

She had earlier attempted to use the toilet but was unsuccessful when the person inside pushed the door back to stop her.

After multiple attempts, the group succeeded and the door was “slightly” opened.

Upon opening the door, the child’s screams for her mother were heard and she [the waitress] ran out to tell management to close all doors.

At the start of the trial on Monday, Ninow pleaded guilty to two charges of rape, one of the possession and use of drugs and defeating the ends of justice.

He, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge of assault while the kidnapping charge against him was withdrawn.

In the plea explanation read by his attorney Herman Alberts, Ninow admitted to being in the possession of and using a drug commonly referred to as CAT and going to the female bathroom.

He further admitted to undressing the girl, forcing his genitals into her mouth and penetrating her vagina with his finger. He also attempted to flush her underwear down the toilet.

Ninow was arrested for the rape in September 2018.

He was found fit to stand trial after a 30-day psychiatric observation.

His referral to the hospital came after the court heard he had bipolar disorder and had abused drugs from the age of 14.

Ninow’s trial continues on Tuesday.

*Though the law prohibits identifying someone accused of a sexual offence before this individual has pleaded to the charge, Caxton previously made an editorial decision to name Ninow following the circumstances around his previous appearance on 2 October 2018.