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January 27, 2005
Child molester recorded his abuse
SOUTH AFRICA
Court views video of sex fiend
January 27, 2005
A high court judge and officials yesterday viewed in camera a video recording of the abuse of an 8-year-old girl filmed by self-confessed child molester Alan Keith Pyle, 47.
Pyle pleaded guilty to six charges of kidnapping and indecent assault of three children in KwaZulu-Natal in October 2000, when he appeared before Judge Jan Combrink and two assessors.
He was convicted of the charges but the prosecution is leading evidence to prove its allegation that the 8-year-old victim was in fact raped during the assault on her on October 23 that year in a Midlands town.
Pyle denies that he penetrated (raped) the girl and alleges that he merely masturbated while indecently assaulting her.
In his plea, Pyle - who was deported from New Zealand to face charges here in December - said he committed the crimes while on a short holiday in South Africa visiting his family.
He admitted picking up a boy, 4, and a girl, 6, in Pietermaritzburg, when they were walking to a shop on October 19.
He said he offered to pay them R5 to take videos of them and they agreed. At a spot in the veld he asked them to undress and took a video of them exposing their genitalia. He also touched their genitals.
A few days later in the Midlands he saw the 8-year-old girl in the street and asked her for directions.
He later asked her to get into his car and show him the place. He then offered her R5 to pose for a naked video recording and she agreed, he said.
Aroused
He said he became sexually aroused while making the video.
Dr Neil McKerrow, child abuse expert and chief paediatrician in charge of hospitals in western KZN, gave evidence - in reply to questions by the defence - that the "pelvic thrusts" Pyle made and which are seen in the video recording of the incident "did not look like masturbatory movements" to him.
McKerrow only examined the child two years after the abuse occurred. He testified that his examination showed her genitalia to be "normal".
However, he said, two thirds of children who had admittedly been sexually penetrated were found to be "normal" and his findings did not exclude the possibility that anal or vaginal penetration had taken place.
Earlier Combrink granted an application by state advocate Rita Blumrick to show the video recording which Pyle admits he made. He ordered that it be viewed in-camera only by the necessary court officials in order to protect the dignity and privacy of the child.
The victim, who is now 12, will testify via an intermediary behind one-way glass when the case resumes today.
The court heard evidence from Sgt Yolynn Denness, of the Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences Unit, that the three child victims were traced by her unit after Interpol sent the unit the video cassette on which Pyle had recorded his abuse of the children.
Pyle had been in New Zealand at the time.
Denness said that when she traced the victim - by then 10 - it emerged she had never disclosed the abuse to anyone including her parents. The girl had been "shocked" that her secret was out, she said.
The case is proceeding.
Posted by Nealus at January 27, 2005 07:23 PM
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