Rights expert bemoans ‘drawn out’ trial of PMB counsellor convicted of rape

Rights expert bemoans ‘drawn out’ trial of PMB counsellor convicted of rape

A child rights expert says while they are satisfied with the sentence handed down to a Pietermaritzburg school guidance counsellor for sex abuse, the trial was drawn out over years, which only extended the pupils' trauma. 

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Darren Goddard, who was also found guilty of rape, was sentenced to life behind bars in the Pietermaritzburg High Court on Thursday. 


Goddard was arrested in 2016 after concerned parents began questioning the kind of games that were being played during therapy sessions. 


He'd abused boys aged between four and nine years in his office. 


He was convicted of accessing child pornography as well as five counts of sexual assault and a count of rape. 


READ: Former PMB school counsellor jailed for child rape


Child rights and protection consultant Dr Joan Van Niekerk says they are pleased that the case has now been finalised. 


"I personally have been aware of it for many years and initially, there were many questions as to whether or not this case would go forward because of the ages of the children and their vulnerability and, of course, the concerns the parents as to the impact - how would the children cope with having to testify and having to go through a court process." 


Van Niekerk says it's been an eight-year wait for justice for the child victims. 


"It's damaging to the families, its frustrating to the child protection workers who actually work in the field and so we really need at our police, Department of Justice, to look at ways in which these cases can be dealt with more timeously."  


Goddard plans on appealing the judgment.

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