Juvenile in rape case to be tested

THE rape trial in the High Court at Keetmanshoop of a 17-year-old youth accused of raping a boy (5) and a girl (6) has been postponed pending the results of a second psychiatric observation.

Defence lawyer Unanisa Hengari on Monday asked Judge Kato van Niekerk to postpone the rape case that was set for plea and trial. The youth allegedly raped the five-year-old girl between September 1 2005 and September 30 2005 at the Hardap Experimental Farm’s residential area, the Hardap Katutura Township, at Mariental.Hengari told the Judge that he believed the youth was not fit to stand trial, despite an earlier clinical diagnosis that he is.State Prosecutor Ed Marondedze opposed the postponement.Judge Van Niekerk transferred the case to the High Court in Windhoek for plea and trial on September 20.The youth allegedly raped the five-year-old girl between September 1 2005 and September 30 2005 at the Hardap Experimental Farm’s residential area, the Hardap Katutura Township, at Mariental.Hengari told the Judge that he believed the youth was not fit to stand trial, despite an earlier clinical diagnosis that he is.State Prosecutor Ed Marondedze opposed the postponement.Judge Van Niekerk transferred the case to the High Court in Windhoek for plea and trial on September 20.