Creasey broke a trust, expert tells child pornography trial
October 29, 2004 Edition 1
Adri-Ann Peters
Acting chief executive officer of the Film and Publications Board, Iyavar Chetty said in court that crimes committed by teachers, such as convicted paedophile William Creasey, could be considered more serious than the same crime committed by others.
Chetty, who had viewed Creasey's confiscated pornographic material, was called as an expert witness for the State in the case at the Wynberg Sexual offences court yesterday.
He said the conviction of people such as doctors, teachers and youth leaders for the abuse of children should have a higher degree of culpability because they were entrusted with the care of minors.
Creasey, 56, was arrested in September last year and pleaded guilty to three counts of indecent assault, six counts of contravening the Sexual Offences Act by committing indecent acts with boys under the legal age of consent and four counts of possession of pornographic material involving children.
Chetty told the court that a developing child was incapable of processing the emotional effects of being part of, or exposed to child pornography.
Some of the effects on children included a loss of self-esteem and anti-social behaviour, and damage could, in most cases, prove "irreversible".
Chetty said some of the images confiscated from Creasey constituted "typical photographs of child abuse" revealing "very disturbing, and clearly extreme violation of children".
He said the images ranged from nude children to penetrative intercourse and would affect these children's health and wellbeing.
Cross-examination by the State of Creasey's friend, Leonie Cadle, 47, continued yesterday. Cadle has agreed to offer housing and supervision for Creasey, instead of him being sent to prison.
Cadle concedes that she and her fiancé are employed and that there would be times when Creasey would be left to his own devices.
When it was pointed out that there was a pre-primary and after-care facility in her street, Cadle pointed out that the school was "completely walled off" and that one could not even see inside.
The case was postponed to November 3 for the presentation of further evidence.
