Swellendam -
After listening for two days to graphic details of Anene Booysen’s injuries, rape- and murder-accused Johannes Kana’s demeanour in the dock attracted a sharp reprimand from Judge Patricia Goliath.
On Wednesday, during the testimony delivered in English by a Tygerberg Hospital pathologist, Kana’s head drooped so low it could no longer be seen over the edge of the dock.
Swellendam Circuit Court interpreter Aubrey Jonase, who was translating the evidence into Afrikaans for Kana’s benefit, snapped:
“He is not even listening. What is the point if he is not listening?”
Startled, Judge Goliath seemed unsure who he was referring to, prompting Jonase to point towards the accused.
Kana’s head was not visible.
The judge said: “Mr Kana, would you please show some enthusiasm and appreciation?”
Kana then sat up as pathologist Dr Karisha Quarrie, who had examined Anene’s body two days after her death, continued her evidence.
Anene’s injuries included swollen genitalia, abrasions from her eyebrows to her left cheek, abrasions on the right cheek, extensive bruising on her forehead and into the hairline, and deep purple, swollen eyes.
“All injuries were consistent with a blunt object such as a brick, baseball bat or stick.”
Quarrie said the cause of death was a mutilating genital injury.
Earlier, the court had heard that Anene, 17, had a serious tear between her anus and vagina, through which her torn intestines were protruding.
Quarrie said: “The intestines appeared to have already died while she was alive.”
Quarrie added that there were signs of accelerated decomposition which was unusual within two days.
“The large intestines, which are attached to the stomach wall, were still inside the body but 1.2m of the small intestines were outside the body through the vagina.”
There was excessive damage to the anus wall, which indicated a lot of force was used, because it was one of the toughest muscles in the body.
Later, Dr Storm Bisset, a surgeon from Worcester Hospital where Anene was treated before being transferred to Tygerberg, said photographs of Anene’s injuries were taken within 10 minutes of her arrival at the hospital.
The photographs are being used as evidence in court.
Quarrie is expected back on the witness stand on Thursday.
Cape Argus