South African man, 21, who raped a 7-year-old girl is found guilty of two charges of rape

A South African man who raped 7-year-old girl has been found guilty of two charges of rape

21-year-old Nicholas Ninow was found guilty by the Pretoria High Court for two counts of rape on Monday, September 16. 

According to News 24, Mr. Ninow raped the 7-year-old girl in the bathroom of a Dros restaurant in Pretoria in 2018. He admitted raping the victim, by forcing his penis into her mouth and inserting his fingers into her vagina. 

At the start of his trial last week, Ninow pleaded guilty to two charges of rape as well as charges of defeating the ends of justice and the possession of an illegal substance. But he pleaded not guilty to assault.

The State reportedly withdrew a kidnapping charge against him and rejected his guilty pleas on the basis that aspects of his story contradicted the State’s evidence. As a result, the trial proceeded.

At his court appearance on Monday, September 16, Judge Pap Mosopa found him guilty on all three counts.

“The only reasonable inference the court can draw is that the accused saw the victim playing in the play area, saw her going to the bathroom, followed her and then undressed and raped her,” said Mosopa.

Mosopa also disclosed that his sentencing will be delayed until October 16 as the defence has not yet received the psychologist’s report. 

Ninow will remain in custody until sentencing.