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Advocate Barbie fights to stay out of jail

DENISE WILLIAMS | PRETORIA, SOUTH AFRICA - Feb 09 2010 17:51

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There is no absolute certainty that Cezanne Visser, also known as Advocate Barbie, will not commit another sex act without further rehabilitation, forensic criminologist Eon Sonnekus told the North Gauteng High Court in Pretoria on Tuesday.

Cross-examined by state prosecutor Andre Fourie, Sonnekus maintained that the only punishment Visser should be given was a suspended sentence or three years' correctional supervision under house arrest.

"The process has only begun, sentence should be handed down, rehabilitation should take place to ensure it does not happen again.

"I have not said she is fully reformed or fully rehabilitated," Sonnekus conceded.

Should a correctional supervision sentence be imposed, this should include 60 hours a week to attend work, 10 hours on weekends to shop and attend church, and two hours of community service at the local zoo.

However, Fourie argued that this allowed Visser a large amount of free time and did not sound like punishment. The community service suggested was an interest of Visser as she liked animals.

"What is her quid pro quo?" he asked.

Fourie was sure many mothers would consider themselves under house arrest if this was all the punishment meted out.

Fourie also challenged Sonnekus's methodology in compiling his report, arguing that the merits of the crimes themselves had not been dealt with and that the victims had not been interviewed.

CONTINUES BELOW

He earlier told the court that Visser could not have shown remorse for indecent assault and solicitation of a minor to perform indecent acts because she had not yet taken responsibility for the crimes.

This, after Sonnekus submitted on Monday that Visser should receive a lesser sentence because she had, of her own volition, told him she was sorry.

"Straightforward she lied. She has not accepted responsibility," Fourie told the court.

He submitted that although Visser had testified that she was sorry for the crimes, she had also claimed to have committed them because she was the victim of manipulation by her former boyfriend, Dirk Prinsloo.

Visser was convicted in October of 11 of 14 sex-related charges.

These included soliciting a 15-year-old to perform indecent acts, indecently assaulting 11-year-old and 14-year-old girls and the possession and manufacture of child pornography.

Prinsloo, who skipped the country while out on bail during the trial, was sentenced to 13 years in prison by a Belarus court last month for theft, assault and attempted bank robbery.

He still faces sex-related charges in the high court in Pretoria.

More evidence in mitigation of Visser's sentence will be presented on Wednesday when another expert is expected to take the stand. -- Sapa

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Comments

at least she's consistent with her 'likes'....1st Dirk, now animals...she seems to be upgrading and progressing up the evolutionary scale...good for her...

Zi Karon on February 9, 2010, 6:55 pm

Wow, wouldn't want to make rom in the courts for serious crimes would we? Pick a woman that has been manipulated by a psycho, easy pickings...

white trash on February 9, 2010, 7:09 pm

Send her to Belarus...

Jacqui Rennie on February 9, 2010, 8:24 pm

The bottom line seems to be that each one has to answer for her own crimes and you cannot hide behind others, nevermind how manipulative they are,for your deeds.

Emile Myburgh on February 9, 2010, 10:23 pm

"...There is no absolute certainty that Cezanne Visser, also known as Advocate Barbie, will not commit another sex act without further rehabilitation..."

So she is prohibited from having sex at all? Does "sex act" include masturbation?

Havelock Vetinari on February 10, 2010, 7:02 am

Seeing as men and women are "supposedly" equal she should get the same punishment as her accomplice Dirk would have received for the same crime.

But the fact that she is a women makes her less guilty. Stand by for the (moron)court to believe her lies and apply a suspended sentence.

That dumb pig walks free today BECAUSE she is female. That's equality for you

Pearson B on February 10, 2010, 7:50 am