Rapist begs for forgiveness

A FITNESS trainer, youth leader and sportsman accused of raping his 11-year-old niece sobbed loudly and begged for the forgiveness of his family shortly after being found guilty in the Port Elizabeth High Court yesterday.

The 42-year-old Arcadia man, who testified about his personal circumstances in mitigation of sentence, had to stop several times during his testimony to drink water and wipe away tears.

"I would like to say that it was wrong of me. I know it has broken the family. I am deeply sorry," he said. The man, who has competed in major sporting events including the Comrades marathon, also admitted he had lied in his plea explanation on Monday in which he accused the girl of initiating the sexual intercourse.

The state, however, rejected his explanation.

The athlete had said that he had been at a family lunch in West End on December 9 2012 when his niece had started touching his private parts.

However, yesterday state advocate Ilse Loots asked if he still maintained that the girl had touched his private parts and started everything.

"No, what she said was correct," the man responded.

"Then why did you say that it was her who started it and put her through the whole ordeal of testifying?" Loots asked. "It was wrong of me," the man said. - Lee-Anne Butler