Trial with in a trial - Sunday Rapist

As seen on News24

Johannesburg - A trial within a trial has started in the "Sunday Rapist" case in the High Court, sitting in the Palm Ridge Magistrate's Court, in Alberton.

Magistrate Sune Jansen van Vuuren was testifying on Wednesday on the admissibility of a statement given by the accused, Johannes Jacobus Steyn, on October 14 last year in Krugersdorp after his arrest.

She said he was informed of his rights, including his right to have a lawyer present. He declined to make use of this right.

He told her he wanted no special treatment, only forgiveness.

"Ek wil net he my kop moet skoon kom [I only want my head to become clear]," she testified him saying.

"Ek wil net verstaan hoekom ek gedoen het wat ek gedoen het. As iemand my net daarmee kan help [I just want to understand why I did what I did. If someone can just help me with that]."

Jansen van Vuuren said Steyn did not want a long trial and he appeared calm, but emotional.

Steyn's lawyer Anton Lerm put it to her that his client was told what to say and paused before answering.

However, she denied this and said she would have recalled this.