'Broken Barbie deeply sorry'
9 February 2010, 06:51
By Zelda Venter
High Court Reporter
Former advocate Cezanne Visser - known as "Advocate Barbie" - is deeply sorry for the trauma she caused her victims, and should be kept out of jail as she has already started with her rehabilitation process.
This was the evidence of forensic criminologist Dr Eon Sonnekus, who was the first defence witness to take the stand yesterday, testifying in mitigation of sentence.
It is expected that the 32-year-old Visser will be sentenced this week on the 11 sex charges she was earlier convicted on.
Sonnekus, in a hefty report handed to court, elaborated about Visser's remorse for what happened to the child victims (especially the 11-year-old) she and Prinsloo had molested. "She told me it would have been unacceptable if it happened to her child," Sonnekus told Acting Judge Chris Eksteen.
He cited several passages from her evidence which, in his opinion, proved that she was sorry for what she had done.
But Judge Eksteen, after the conclusion of Sonnekus's evidence, questioned the expert as to whether he had seen anywhere on the record where she had asked outright for any of the victims' forgiveness. "Have you seen anywhere where she told any of the children she was sorry for what she had done to them?
"One child, with tears in her eyes, testified before me that 'these people have ruined my life'. Did you see anywhere where she told that child she was sorry?" the judge asked.
Sonnekus could not cite these passages, but said that in his expert opinion she was remorseful.
He suggested to the court that Visser either receive a suspended sentence or correctional supervision as punishment. "The accused had, during her trial, indicated several times that she underwent a positive change over the past seven years."
Sonnekus said Visser was no longer the person she was while she lived with her former lover and co-accused in this case, Dirk Prinsloo.
The court was also told that Visser had a good job in an administrative capacity at Safari Cargo Systems, which she stood to lose if she was sent to jail. "It will not be in the interests of reforming or in the interest of the community if she lost this job."
Sonnekus said any sentence which was not suspended would be contrary to the interests of the community. "She has the intellect and is able to see the stupidity of her actions and to rehabilitate within the community without having to spend any time in jail," he said.
Regarding correctional supervision, Sonnekus testified that it was definitely not a light sentence. He suggested that she should receive three years' correctional supervision where she would be under house arrest apart from working, going to church and doing some shopping. He also suggested that she should do community service - eight hours a month - at the zoo.
This prompted Judge Eksteen to ask: "Why the zoo? What does the zoo have to do with the sexual molestation of children?"
Sonnekus said it was because Visser's mother, Susan Lemmer, had told him that her daughter liked animals. This prompted the judge to remark: "So you want to make it as easy as possible for her?"
Sonnekus said that in his expert opinion, Visser fell in the category of people who, in light of her personality and possible mitigating factors, could be punished but still stay within the community.
He said a harsh sentence would benefit nobody. He was of the opinion that Visser would be better rehabilitated when she exposed to the negative influences of the jail environment. "She is not a threat to the community... She is in fact to a great extent a broken woman who will have to spend her life trying to win back her status and dignity."
Sonnekus added it did not seem likely that Visser would repeat these offences and that she was not a typical criminal. "She is to a great extent an inhibited woman, who in any event will have to carry the psychological effects of her criminal case with her for the rest of her life."
Sonnekus also said it had emerged from his interviews with Visser's stepfather, Professor Johan Lemmer, a sexologist, that she was still experiencing sexual problems. This damage had been done to her by Prinsloo during their relationship. She was at present in a platonic relationship with another man and experienced sexual aversion, Sonnekus said.
He added that this was another reason why she should be kept out of jail, as she would not receive the necessary help in this department behind bars.
The State was to cross-examine Sonnekus today.
High Court Reporter
Former advocate Cezanne Visser - known as "Advocate Barbie" - is deeply sorry for the trauma she caused her victims, and should be kept out of jail as she has already started with her rehabilitation process.
This was the evidence of forensic criminologist Dr Eon Sonnekus, who was the first defence witness to take the stand yesterday, testifying in mitigation of sentence.
It is expected that the 32-year-old Visser will be sentenced this week on the 11 sex charges she was earlier convicted on.
Sonnekus, in a hefty report handed to court, elaborated about Visser's remorse for what happened to the child victims (especially the 11-year-old) she and Prinsloo had molested. "She told me it would have been unacceptable if it happened to her child," Sonnekus told Acting Judge Chris Eksteen.
He cited several passages from her evidence which, in his opinion, proved that she was sorry for what she had done.
But Judge Eksteen, after the conclusion of Sonnekus's evidence, questioned the expert as to whether he had seen anywhere on the record where she had asked outright for any of the victims' forgiveness. "Have you seen anywhere where she told any of the children she was sorry for what she had done to them?
"One child, with tears in her eyes, testified before me that 'these people have ruined my life'. Did you see anywhere where she told that child she was sorry?" the judge asked.
Sonnekus could not cite these passages, but said that in his expert opinion she was remorseful.
He suggested to the court that Visser either receive a suspended sentence or correctional supervision as punishment. "The accused had, during her trial, indicated several times that she underwent a positive change over the past seven years."
Sonnekus said Visser was no longer the person she was while she lived with her former lover and co-accused in this case, Dirk Prinsloo.
The court was also told that Visser had a good job in an administrative capacity at Safari Cargo Systems, which she stood to lose if she was sent to jail. "It will not be in the interests of reforming or in the interest of the community if she lost this job."
Sonnekus said any sentence which was not suspended would be contrary to the interests of the community. "She has the intellect and is able to see the stupidity of her actions and to rehabilitate within the community without having to spend any time in jail," he said.
Regarding correctional supervision, Sonnekus testified that it was definitely not a light sentence. He suggested that she should receive three years' correctional supervision where she would be under house arrest apart from working, going to church and doing some shopping. He also suggested that she should do community service - eight hours a month - at the zoo.
This prompted Judge Eksteen to ask: "Why the zoo? What does the zoo have to do with the sexual molestation of children?"
Sonnekus said it was because Visser's mother, Susan Lemmer, had told him that her daughter liked animals. This prompted the judge to remark: "So you want to make it as easy as possible for her?"
Sonnekus said that in his expert opinion, Visser fell in the category of people who, in light of her personality and possible mitigating factors, could be punished but still stay within the community.
He said a harsh sentence would benefit nobody. He was of the opinion that Visser would be better rehabilitated when she exposed to the negative influences of the jail environment. "She is not a threat to the community... She is in fact to a great extent a broken woman who will have to spend her life trying to win back her status and dignity."
Sonnekus added it did not seem likely that Visser would repeat these offences and that she was not a typical criminal. "She is to a great extent an inhibited woman, who in any event will have to carry the psychological effects of her criminal case with her for the rest of her life."
Sonnekus also said it had emerged from his interviews with Visser's stepfather, Professor Johan Lemmer, a sexologist, that she was still experiencing sexual problems. This damage had been done to her by Prinsloo during their relationship. She was at present in a platonic relationship with another man and experienced sexual aversion, Sonnekus said.
He added that this was another reason why she should be kept out of jail, as she would not receive the necessary help in this department behind bars.
The State was to cross-examine Sonnekus today.
- This article was originally published on page 1 of The Pretoria News on February 09, 2010
Pretoria
