No collusion between witnesses in Bob Hewitt case – NPA
The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) told media there was no collusion between the women who testified against Bob Hewitt in his rape and sexual assault case prior to his trial.
This followed reports by SABC News that it was in possession of emails which indicated the women communicated with each other before the case went to court.
NPA spokesperson, Luvuyo Mfaku, said there is no merit to the allegations.
“The prosecutor who prosecuted the matter led evidence on the basis of the statement’s the witnesses deposed to the police.
“It is the responsibility of the prosecutor to prepare witnesses for court but not to coach them – to tell them what is permissible and what is not permissible.
“I would imagine that the engagement that she (the prosecutor) had with the witnesses was in line with educating themabout court processes,” Mfaku told SABC.
One of the victims, Suellen Sheehan, did not comment on reports by the SABC that it is in possession of correspondence showing that the three women who accused former tennis champion Hewitt (75) of rape and sexual assault may have colluded prior to his trial.
Sheehan referred the Bedfordview Edenvale News to the Women and Men Against Child Abuse (WMACA) when they requested comment.
The WMACA issued the following statement to the media:
“The only tactic left for Hewitt’s defence lawyers is to attack and discredit the victims again.
“After their many efforts to undermine these women in court, they now resort to using the media to shame them even more.
“Hewitt has shown no remorse for his deeds and now clearly displays a total lack of any consideration for the victims.
“Let us not forget that when Heather Conner (in the USA) disclosed her abuse at the hands of Hewitt, the other victims, realising they were not the only ones, naturally made contact with each other and shared experiences, but that is not collusion – at no point was there a secret strategy discussed or planned for a trial.
“Surely, Rolf Harris and Bill Cosby’s victims have all made contact with each other – it is healing and comforting to know that after all this time of internal turmoil you are not alone,” said the WMACA spokesperson, Germaine Vogel.
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