Two new sexual assault cases have been brought against self-confessed child rapist and killer, Carlo de Kock, who appeared in the Wynberg Regional Court on Thursday.
The Manenberg man who recently pleaded guilty to raping and murdering his 10-year-old niece, Chanelle McCrawl, was hauled to court yesterday after the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) reinstated two sexual assault cases involving children dating back to 2012.
On 19 October 2017, Chanelle was reported missing when she failed to arrive at school.
The next day her body was found wrapped in a curtain and placed in a shopping bag at a river near her Audrey Court home.
De Kock and neighbour, Stanton Mano, were arrested, but the state later dropped charges against Mano.
Now it has emerged that De Kock was arrested twice, before Chanelle was killed, for sexually assaulting a nine-year-old female relative.
According to police reports, on 10 February 2012, the girl was left in De Kock’s care for the day.
During this time he allegedly pulled down her panty and rubbed his penis on her and told her not to tell anyone.
“He promised to give her a R2, pens, sweets, samoosas and chocolates to not say anything, but the girl reported it to her mother and he was arrested,” says a source.
Three years later when the girl was 13 years old, De Kock allegedly assaulted the girl again, this time while her mother was sleeping.
Chanelle McCrawl, 10
“The child was sleeping next to her mother and told police that De Kock got into the bed with his head at their feet and while sleeping, he rubbed his feet on her private parts.
“He kept the child awake throughout the night because he also rubbed her with his hands.”
De Kock was arrested again, but both cases were withdrawn as the child refused to testify against him.
NPA spokesperson, Eric Ntabazalila, says: “I can confirm that the charges against the accused have been reinstated. The complainant is a minor who is now 16 years old. She was 13 years old and nine years old when the offences were committed.
“He faces two charges of sexual assault and the cases were withdrawn because the complainant refused to testify.”
This matter was postponed to 20 May.
On Monday, De Kock will return to the Cape High Court where sentencing procedures will get underway.
He has refused a life sentence for the death of Chanelle and has asked the courts to take time served in Pollsmoor into consideration.