One of Barbie's child victims kills herself
8 March 2010, 07:08
By Barry Bateman
A victim of convicted sex offender Cezanne Visser and her partner Dirk Prinsloo has committed suicide, nine years after the pair molested her on her 14th birthday.
Although details were unclear by the time of going to press, it is believed Janine du Plessis, 23, was found hanging from a tree near the Botswana border.
Apparently Du Plessis, who was recently discharged from a drug rehabilitation centre, was visiting Botswana with the father of her child, who is said to be in the care of her mother, Marie.
Marie said last night she was not in a position to talk to the media.
Two weeks ago, the Pretoria High Court sentenced Visser - also known as Advocate Barbie - to seven years in jail for her part in the sexual abuse of children and young women. She is appealing the sentence.
Prinsloo is currently serving out a 13-year jail sentence in Belarus for a bank robbery.
Last night, Visser's stepfather, Johan Lemmer, said that Visser and her mother Susan had just received the news of the suicide. "The family is in shock, that is all we have to say," he said.
Laurie Pieters, Prinsloo's former private assistant and an offender profiler, said she conducted a victim impact assessment on Du Plessis last year.
Questioned whether the abuse played a role in her psychological development and eventual suicide, Pieters said: "Of course, it did.
"The fall out from abuse was horrifying for the child's life and her parents.
"The whole family was devastated," she said.
Pieters said the impact of the abuse meant Du Plessis never developed from a girl into a woman.
"The child ran away from home and became a heroin addict, got involved with Nigerians, got raped and was on drugs for years."
Pieters said when she last heard about Du Plessis, she had been admitted to a drug rehabilitation centre in December for her heroin problem.
She said her child, presumed to be about 14 months old, was in her mother's care.
Child Abuse Action Group (CAAG) spokeswoman Lucy Redivo agreed that the abuse had a significant role in Du Plessis' mental well-being. "It must have played a part. I am angry that now there is another orphan.
"(Du Plessis) was never given proper assistance from the state.
"Nine years after the abuse and she only has some finality because the case is now going to the appeals court. If you are a victim of trauma, you see that as the perpetrators going free," she said.
Last year, Visser told the Pretoria High Court that she met Du Plessis through an organisation which housed homeless children.
Visser testified that she often took Du Plessis out for coffee and shopping and, when she turned 14, Prinsloo suggested they give her a treat at home for her birthday.
The couple served the child alcoholic drinks and at the end of the evening Visser claimed Prinsloo gave Du Plessis a drug-laced cup of Milo.
"She became drowsy and Dirk picked her up and said he would lay her down. When I walked to the main bedroom later, I found them in the guest bedroom.
"She was lying on her back and Dirk had already ejaculated over her stomach," said Visser.
Du Plessis confirmed in court Visser's claim that she was given Milo and that she felt drowsy after drinking it. She said she was taken to the main bedroom and all she could remember was flashing lights.
When she woke up she was naked.
She testified that she had subsequently become involved in drugs and prostitution and that she was, at the time of her testimony, working at a strip club.
A victim of convicted sex offender Cezanne Visser and her partner Dirk Prinsloo has committed suicide, nine years after the pair molested her on her 14th birthday.
Although details were unclear by the time of going to press, it is believed Janine du Plessis, 23, was found hanging from a tree near the Botswana border.
Apparently Du Plessis, who was recently discharged from a drug rehabilitation centre, was visiting Botswana with the father of her child, who is said to be in the care of her mother, Marie.
Marie said last night she was not in a position to talk to the media.
Two weeks ago, the Pretoria High Court sentenced Visser - also known as Advocate Barbie - to seven years in jail for her part in the sexual abuse of children and young women. She is appealing the sentence.
Prinsloo is currently serving out a 13-year jail sentence in Belarus for a bank robbery.
Last night, Visser's stepfather, Johan Lemmer, said that Visser and her mother Susan had just received the news of the suicide. "The family is in shock, that is all we have to say," he said.
Laurie Pieters, Prinsloo's former private assistant and an offender profiler, said she conducted a victim impact assessment on Du Plessis last year.
Questioned whether the abuse played a role in her psychological development and eventual suicide, Pieters said: "Of course, it did.
"The fall out from abuse was horrifying for the child's life and her parents.
"The whole family was devastated," she said.
Pieters said the impact of the abuse meant Du Plessis never developed from a girl into a woman.
"The child ran away from home and became a heroin addict, got involved with Nigerians, got raped and was on drugs for years."
Pieters said when she last heard about Du Plessis, she had been admitted to a drug rehabilitation centre in December for her heroin problem.
She said her child, presumed to be about 14 months old, was in her mother's care.
Child Abuse Action Group (CAAG) spokeswoman Lucy Redivo agreed that the abuse had a significant role in Du Plessis' mental well-being. "It must have played a part. I am angry that now there is another orphan.
"(Du Plessis) was never given proper assistance from the state.
"Nine years after the abuse and she only has some finality because the case is now going to the appeals court. If you are a victim of trauma, you see that as the perpetrators going free," she said.
Last year, Visser told the Pretoria High Court that she met Du Plessis through an organisation which housed homeless children.
Visser testified that she often took Du Plessis out for coffee and shopping and, when she turned 14, Prinsloo suggested they give her a treat at home for her birthday.
The couple served the child alcoholic drinks and at the end of the evening Visser claimed Prinsloo gave Du Plessis a drug-laced cup of Milo.
"She became drowsy and Dirk picked her up and said he would lay her down. When I walked to the main bedroom later, I found them in the guest bedroom.
"She was lying on her back and Dirk had already ejaculated over her stomach," said Visser.
Du Plessis confirmed in court Visser's claim that she was given Milo and that she felt drowsy after drinking it. She said she was taken to the main bedroom and all she could remember was flashing lights.
When she woke up she was naked.
She testified that she had subsequently become involved in drugs and prostitution and that she was, at the time of her testimony, working at a strip club.
- This article was originally published on page 1 of The Pretoria News on March 08, 2010
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