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18:29 10 Feb 12
Cezanne Visser, also known as "Advocate Barbie", is seen outside the Pretoria High Court. Sapa
'Barbie needs rehab'
Wed, 10 Feb 2010 12:00
There is no absolute certainty that Cezanne Visser, known as
"Advocate Barbie", will not commit another sex crime without
rehabilitation, forensic criminologist Eon Sonnekus told the 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 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.
No remorse from Barbie?
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.
Fourie said remorse denoted repentance followed by feelings of
guilt and responsibility.
Sonnekus responded: "It can be", but added that remorse could also
be an understanding of wrongfulness.
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.