Court rules Dros rape accused fit to stand trial
The Magistrate's Court in Pretoria has found a 20-year-old man accused of raping a seven-year-old girl at a restaurant bathroom in Pretoria - fit to stand trial.
The State had in November recommended that Nicholas Ninow be sent for psychological and psychiatric evaluation at Weskoppies Psychiatric Hospital.
Ninow spent 30 days at the mental facility.
His case has now been postponed to the 5th of March for an indictment to transfer the matter to the Pretoria high court.
NPA Gauteng spokesperson, Phindi Mjonondwane says Ninow will remain in police custody.
"The task ahead is for the NPA to prepare for trial with the aim of securing a successful conviction. The only way to achieve that is for us to place before court a formidable case, lead evidence that will convince the court that indeed a crime was committed and that the accused before court is the actual perpetrator. So, the forum has already been decided upon," Mjonondwane said.
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Mjonondwane says the office of the Director of Public Prosecutions has already indicated that the matter will be tried in the high court, hence the postponement to March.
