A man accused of raping a teen girl and a pre-teen girl as well as attempting to rape an under-age girl in the Windhoek district denied guilt on 14 charges at the start of his trial in the Windhoek High Court yesterday.
The charges on which Johan Morkel (42) pleaded not guilty include seven counts of rape, three charges of child trafficking, a count of attempted rape, a charge of committing or attempting to commit an indecent or immoral act with a child below the age of 16 years, and a count of abduction, alternatively kidnapping.
Morkel’s defence lawyer, Rennie Strauss, did not give a plea explanation to the court after Morkel denied guilt on all of the 14 charges he is facing.
The state is required to prove all of the elements of the charges against Morkel, Strauss informed judge Naomi Shivute.
The state is alleging that Morkel abducted or kidnapped a girl (15) in the Dordabis area south-east of Windhoek on 21 December 2018 and held her captive for two days.
During the time he detained the girl against her will, Morkel raped her five times or committed sexual acts with her, the state is alleging.
Morkel is also accused of raping a girl (9) twice or committing sexual acts with her in the Goreangab area of Windhoek on 30 May 2021.
The incidents near the end of May 2021 are alleged to have happened after Morkel called the girl to his residence, where he offered to put gold on her teeth.
The state is alleging that Morkel again called a girl who was below the age of 14 to his residence on 16 July 2021, and that he offered to put a gold ring on her teeth before he sexually assaulted her and attempted to rape her.
Morkel is being held in custody.
State advocate Toini Amuthitu is representing the prosecution in his trial, assisted by Palmer Kumalo.
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