RAPHAEL MARTIN'S TRIAL DATE SET

A FORMER Mitchell’s Plain sub-council manager accused of raping a 13-year-old meisie heard that the date has finally been set for his trial.

Raphael Martin returned to the Mitchells Plain Regional Court on Tuesday which heard that he has a new legal representative after previously running out of money to pay his old lawyer.

Martin was busted nearly five years ago when the brave meisie from Strandfontein broke her silence on the sex attacks.

At the time, the meisie was just 13 years old and told her parents that she had been raped multiple times over a three-year period by Martin who was a family friend. 

The court heard that Martin’s new lawyer asked for a postponement of the trial to receive further transcripts of the victim’s testimony heard in 2023 to get more information on the case.

During her testimony, the victim said the first alleged attack took place when she was nine years old and Martin had been staying with her family for three years.

The victim said: “He sat next to me and put his hands on top of my clothes rubbing my vagina, and his words to me was, ‘is this OK?’ and I looked at him and said no.”

However, the Magistrate said that the matter has been going on for too long and said the trial would start on 14 August.

Last year, Martin’s previous legal team lodged a review calling for the Magistrate presiding over the rape trial to be removed and the main trial was stalled.

The victim’s mother told the Daily Voice: “It’s been going on for too many years. My daughter was in Grade 8 when she came out. 

“Today she’s done with her matric and yet her life is still standing still.

“He walks a free man, but today I do feel hopeful that justice will come and he will get his day. It is all in God’s time. 

“He knows how my daughter suffered under Raphael’s hands and how he destroyed her childhood, but she pushed through and she’s not giving up until justice is served.”