The doctor that conducted the examination on a three-year-old girl allegedly raped by a 35-year-old man in Aranos concluded that forceful penetration took place.
Dr Dawina Oaes told Windhoek High Court Judge Claudia Claasen on Tuesday that when she examined the little girl, she found bruises, swelling and a tear on her private parts.
She further testified that the girl was very emotional and was crying and irritable. The doctor further told the court that she also found blood and a whitish discharge in the girl’s private parts. According to her, this is all indicative of severe traumatic force consistent with forceful penetration.
Hans Hendrick Dreyer (35) is accused of raping the three-year-old after he allegedly broke into her parents’ house. During her evidence, the doctor told the judge that the injuries the girl sustained could not have been self-inflicted as they were too severe.
According to her, the only times she has seen such injuries were when a woman gave birth or when a large object was inserted into the private parts without any lubrication. It is thus unlikely that a three-year-old can inflict such injuries on herself.
Dreyer 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 that she was left in charge of the victim and her five-year-old brother when her mother went out. She said that 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 had 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 the hospital.
She further confirmed to the judge that the accused was a close neighbour. According to the young lady, she and the accused were on a friendly footing and greeted each other whenever they met. During cross-examination, Cliff Simataa, on behalf of Dreyer, questioned the girl about a footpath that runs 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 continues today, and Dreyer remains in custody at the section for trial-awaiting inmates at the Windhoek Correctional Facility. The State is represented by Loretha Muvangua.