Judgment in pensioner’s Mdantsane baby rape trial postponed

Judgment is expected on Friday in a case of a pensioner accused of raping a 15-month-old baby in Mdantsane.

The grey-haired 62-year-old appeared in the Bhisho high court on Tuesday, where judgment was expected from judge Belinda Hartle.

However, Hartle postponed the case as verification of whether semen was found or not in the toddler's diaper was outstanding.

DispatchLIVE reported two weeks ago that the toddler's grandmother found blood on the little girl's diaper when she changed it after 10pm on October 18 in 2018.

The grandmother, the wife of the accused, was changing the diaper preparing to sleep after watching television with the man's daughter.

The woman testified she heard the baby crying in a manner like the baby was “shocked”. The baby was in the bedroom that the couple shared.

Hartle said during the course of considering the matter, a query had arisen as a result of an exhibit which required verification.

“I asked the counsel to pursue the issue of  whether or not possibly semen was obtained from the nappy.

“It is that aspect the court needs investigated,” she said. Hopefully it would be clarified by Friday and judgment could be made, she added.

DispatchLIVE