'Sunday rapist' looked for prostitute

263 Johannes Steyn dubbed the Sunday rapist smiles at the Palmridge magistrates court where he faces multiple rape and murder charges. 240712. Picture: Bongiwe Mchunu

263 Johannes Steyn dubbed the Sunday rapist smiles at the Palmridge magistrates court where he faces multiple rape and murder charges. 240712. Picture: Bongiwe Mchunu

Published Jul 26, 2012

Share

Johannes Jacobus Steyn, dubbed the “Sunday rapist”, said on Thursday he wanted to hire a prostitute the morning of Roodepoort teenager Louise de Waal's murder.

“I went looking for a good time... I went to find a prostitute... to get something I don't get at home,” he told the High Court, sitting in the Palm Ridge Magistrate's Court in Alberton.

When Judge Sita Kolbe asked further about this alibi, he said it was “very early” in the morning.

Steyn is accused of murdering school girls Louise de Waal and Lazanne Farmer.

He is also charged with 11 counts of rape, 10 of sexual assault, 10 of kidnapping, one of attempted sexual assault, one of attempted kidnapping, and two of assault.

The 11 girls Steyn allegedly attacked between 2008 and 2011 were aged between 11 and 18.

The 36-year-old pleaded not guilty to all 37 charges against him on Monday.

Steyn was testifying on what police told him prior to an incriminating statement he made to a magistrate in Krugersdorp, the day after he handed himself over in October 2011.

He said he admitted to crimes he did not commit because he had a previous conviction.

“Take the punch... because you won't get out of this... go on with your life... this is the easy way out for you,” he said police told him.

He said he was briefed on what to say by investigating officer Peet du Toit before making the statement to the magistrate.

“I was told I was young. Plead guilty and go on,” a calm Steyn told the court.

Advocate Carina Coetzee for the State asked Steyn how he could have found police actions against him threatening.

“They scared me into talking,” was his answer.

However, when pushed he admitted he was never physically assaulted.

“I was intimidated. No, I was not threatened.” Coetzee also questioned on how he was intimidated, if Du Toit only briefly discussed the docket with him. He managed to recall it so perfectly to a magistrate.

“You have an amazing memory,” she told him.

He said that he couldn't remember everything, but he added what he could remember from what he had read about the “Sunday rapist” in a newspaper. – Sapa

Related Topics: