Lynn Williams
A psychologist who interviewed the complainants in the protracted rape, racketeering, and human trafficking trial of 63-year-old Nigerian Pastor Timothy Omotoso was on the witness stand on Tuesday, when the trial resumed in the Gqeberha High Court.
Omotoso and his co-accused Lusanda Sulani and Zukiswa Sitho are standing trial on over 90 charges.
The leader of the Jesus Dominion International Church (JDI) has been behind bars for almost six years, while his co-accused are out on bail.
Defense attorney Peter Daubermann questioned Karen Hollely about a report she submitted following extensive interviews she had conducted with the complainants in 2017.
Daubermann pointed out numerous discrepancies in the version that a complainant had given Hollely compared to police statements, affidavits, and her testimony in court.
He pointed out that some of the complainants had contradicted themselves.
Dauberman also told the court that the State knew about these discrepancies, but the former State Prosecutor in the matter, Advocate Nceba Ntelwa, had decided not to amend certain charges from sexual assault to rape.
He asked Hollely whether Ntelwa could have influenced a complainant who changed her version of the events when she testified in court.
Hollely said this possibility could not be excluded, adding that confusion and the fear of facing the accused while testifying in court could also have played a role.
The trial will resume on Monday.
