Johannesburg - The trial of the alleged “Sunday rapist” continued in the High Court, sitting in the Palm Ridge Magistrate's Court in Alberton, on Wednesday.
During cross-examination Carina Coetzee, for the State, asked the accused Johannes Jacobus Steyn how he would describe a person who kidnapped, raped and in some cases murdered teenage girls, the modus operandi of the 'Sunday rapist'.
“Desperate maybe...maybe someone who doesn't have much feeling for other people. I don't know, I'm not someone who judges other people too quickly,” he said.
Coetzee asked if this man, who traumatised these teenage girls, could be described as a monster.
“I can't say. Maybe a person who is desperate, a person who needed to satisfy urges. I don't know what was going on in their head.”
He said he would not want to comment unless he knew the person's background.
Steyn has pleaded not guilty to two counts of murder, 11 of rape, 10 of sexual assault, 10 of kidnapping, one of attempted sexual assault, and one of attempted kidnapping.
Coetzee queried Steyn when he said he had not thought about the 'Sunday rapist' often. She asked how this was possible if this man caused Steyn to be incarcerated for almost a year.
He said it felt like he was being punished for cheating on his wife and it was a time to get closer to God. He had not really given it much thought.
Coetzee also asked if it did not bother him that this man was still free and could harm other children.
“I looked in the newspapers and I haven't seen anything since my arrest.” She also asked if his feelings towards the 'Sunday rapist' changed when he saw the nine victims during their testimony and if he felt sorry for the girls.
“I didn't look at them much. I was making notes,” he said at first.
He then admitted such a man probably had a problem.
“I did feel sorry for (the girls). I went back (to the cells) and prayed for them, for him (the 'Sunday rapist'), for myself and for lots of other people.”
Throughout her three day cross-examination Coetzee questioned Steyn why he was always in the vicinity of where each of the alleged 'Sunday rapist' victims were kidnapped and assaulted.
Steyn has given numerous alibis varying from affairs with prostitutes to helping friends to tow their cars.
Coetzee on Wednesday morning put it to Steyn why he had not called any one of these alibi witnesses to verify his whereabouts. He said he could either not reach them or they refused.
“I am not going to force anyone to testify,” he said.
“So you are not going to call one of your alibi witnesses?” Coetzee asked.
“That is correct,” Steyn said. - Sapa