An Aranos man accused of breaking into the house of his neighbour and raping a three-year-old girl child, pleaded not guilty on Monday before Windhoek High Court Judge Claudia Claasen.

Hans Hendrick Dreyer (35) is facing a charge of housebreaking with intent to rape and rape. He did not provide a plea explanation, and said he will remain silent and put the onus on the State to prove the allegation against him. 

It is alleged that he broke into the house on 13 April 2022, and found the little girl asleep and raped her. 

Her elder sister, who may not be named to protect the identity of the victim, testified Monday that she was left in charge of the victim and her five-year-old brother when her mother went out. 

She said later that night, her two cousins arrived at her house and asked her to go with them, but she refused because her siblings were still awake. 

However, she said the cousins returned after a while, and she decided to join them as the children were asleep. 

The girl, who was 16 years old at the time, narrated to the court that she closed the windows of the house and the door, but did not lock it. When they returned after some time, she was informed by her uncle that her sister has been raped. 

The girl further informed the court that when she entered the room where the girl was sleeping, she observed blood spots on the floor, but could not see if it was from the little girl as she was already taken to hospital. 

She further confirmed to the judge that the accused was a neighbour of theirs, staying next to her house. According to the young lady, she and the accused were on a friendly footing, and they greeted each other whenever they met. During cross-examination, Cliff Simataa, on behalf of Dreyer, questioned the girl about a footpath that run between their houses with a gap in the fence of her yard. 

The girl, however, remained steadfast that the gap in the fence was on the fence that separated the accused’s yard from that of a pastor, who is also their neighbour. 

The matter continued yesterday, and Dreyer remains in custody at the section for trial-awaiting inmates at the Windhoek Correctional Facility. The State is represented by Loretha Muvangua.