KEETMANSHOOP – Six young men accused of the gang rape of an 18-year-old girl made their first court appearance in the Keetmanshoop Magistrate’s Court yesterday.
The accused Bernolius Westhuizen (21), Sylvester Blockstaan (21), Laurentius Blockstaan (20) and three others aged 14 who cannot be named due to their age face two charges each – of rape and robbery.
Sylvester and Laurentius Blockstaan are believed to be related to two of the minors as they share the same surname.
It is alleged that in the early hours of Saturday they approached the victim who was walking home with her boyfriend and raped her while some of the suspects held off her boyfriend, and also robbed her of her cellphone.
The suspects were denied bail as it would not be in the interest of the public and the case was postponed to June 25 this year for further police investigations and for the suspects to apply for legal aid, ruled the magistrate.