Wickus Johann Maree, who is facing 75 counts of raping underage boys and spreading pornographic material on the dark web, lost another lawyer yesterday morning. 

Legal Aid lawyer Meriam Kandoni withdrew from the trial due to conflicting instructions. 

The trial was thus postponed to 28 November for Maree to be provided with a new Legal Aid lawyer.

Acting Windhoek High Court Judge Philanda Christiaan granted Kandoni’s request to withdraw after the latter informed the judge that she and Maree could not agree on a defensive strategy.

The court was already provided with a psychiatric report for Maree, where he was declared fit to be tried. The report also said that he had his full faculties when he committed the alleged offences. 

He faces, amongst others, 24 rape charges, 18 child trafficking charges, and 10 charges of using a minor to produce pornography.

The State is represented by deputy prosecutor general Palmer Khumalo.