Lawyer in pastor sex
case goes awol
Tanya
Waterworth
THE non
appearance by the
defence advocate in
the trial of
Richards Bay pastor,
Marinus Coetzee (52)
created an
unexpected twist in
court on Tuesday.
Appearing in the
Richard’s Bay
Magistrate’s Court
for judgement,
Coetzee told the
court that despite
numerous attempts,
he had failed to
contact his defence
counsel, Advocate
Chris van Vuuren in
Durban.
He added that due to
concern at the lack
of response from his
lawyer, he had even
visited the
advocate’s Durban
offices, only to
find them
‘abandoned’.
Public Prosecutor,
Sharon Bux also told
presiding Judge
Mthembu that she had
received a call from
van Vuuren on
Tuesday morning
advising that he was
unable to attend the
judge’s summation of
the trial due to
personal reasons.
The courtroom was
packed with
witnesses and
supporters for both
sides of the
sensational trial,
which has split the
close-knit Afrikaans
community in
Richards Bay.
Allegations
Coetzee was the
pastor of the AGS
Meerensee when four
girls in the church
made allegations of
indecent assault and
crimen injuria.
Nine charges were
laid against the
pastor and he
resigned his post
shortly afterwards,
but has since
started another
congregation.
The media were
banned from court
while the girls gave
evidence, as it was
deemed to be of a
highly sensitive
nature. Journalists
have been allowed to
attend the remainder
of the trial during
which Coetzee denied
the allegations made
against him. In
court on Tuesday, an
irate Judge Mthembu
slammed the absent
Advocate van Vuuren
for wasting the time
of all the parties
concerned, adding
that the case could
not continue until
defence counsel was
present.
The summation was
postponed until 20
November.
