sentence on Barbie starts

09 February 2010 - 02:00
By unknown

CEZANNE Visser, also known as Advocate Barbie, has shown remorse for the sex-related crimes she is convicted of, forensic criminologist Ian Sonnekus told the high court in Pretoria yesterday.

CEZANNE Visser, also known as Advocate Barbie, has shown remorse for the sex-related crimes she is convicted of, forensic criminologist Ian Sonnekus told the high court in Pretoria yesterday.

Testifying in mitigation of sentence, Sonnekus said during her trial Visser had told the court she "judged" herself.

After many consultations with her following the guilty verdict in October, Sonnekus said Visser told him she was no longer vulnerable to male manipulation.

Throughout the trial the defence argued that Visser performed and abetted sexual acts on minors because she was under the spell of her then boyfriend Dirk Prinsloo.

Referring to the indecent acts and the pain the victims may have experienced, Sonnekus said Visser had felt the situation was unfortunate.

The court was asked to take into account in sentencing Visser the fact that she did not have any previous convictions.

Visser was convicted in October of 11 of 14 sex-related charges. These included soliciting a 15-year-old to perform indecent acts, indecently assaulting 11 and 14-year-old girls and the possession and manufacture of child pornography.

Prinsloo was sentenced to 13 years in prison by a Belarus court last month for theft, assault and attempted bank robbery. He also faces sex-related charges in the high court in Pretoria. - Sapa