Photo: Gallo Images / Phill Magakoe
Photo: Gallo Images / Phill Magakoe
Nicholas Ninow begins his “life” – in every sense of the word – behind bars later this week, after he was dramatically sentenced to a stretch of at least 25 years in prison. His three sentences will run concurrently, but it seems that the dust is yet to settle on this particular matter, and subsequent investigations.
Last Wednesday, Ninow took to the stand for the first time. He opted to give testimony, some 13 months after first appearing in a courtroom for the heinous rape of a seven-year-old girl at the Pretoria Dros restaurant. His defence team, and the client himself, are probably wishing he didn’t bother.
Nicholas Ninow to start life as a prisoner
His rambling reasons for assaulting the child did nothing to win the judge over. His speech grew more bizarre, culminating in him reading out a poem he penned for his victim. This came shortly before he claimed he could be “an amazing person” if given a second chance, and made several contradictions about his drug use.
The testimony proved to be maddeningly chaotic, and the defence’s efforts to mitigate any harsh sentences fell flat. In fact, the team ended up causing more problems than they were hoping to resolve. Nicholas Ninow opened up, and in turn, has sparked a few new investigations relating to the case:
Investigations caused by Nicholas Ninow’s testimony:
Drug use in prison
Correctional Services spokesperson Singabakho Nxumalo confirmed last week that there would be an investigation at the Kgosi Mampuru Prison in Tshwane. This comes after Nicholas Ninow told the judge he had used drugs behind bars “at least 20 times” since being imprisoned:
There is no rehabilitation in prison. There are drugs everywhere. Like when I was evicted from Denmar Psychiatric Hospital. I kept using drugs while I was there.
Nicholas Ninow
Suggestions he will kill himself
As revealed on Monday by News24, the Correctional Services Department are also concerned by issues the convicted rapist’s psychologist raised during the sentencing hearing. According to her, Nicholas Ninow has implicitly said getting a life sentence would make him suicidal. The DCS will now how to investigate whether he really is a suicide risk
“He was physically and sexually abused as a child. Ninow has a deep hatred for himself and said he will kill himself when he get a life sentence. He has a mood disorder and exhibits angered outbursts”
Marina Genis
Follow-ups required for his victim, previous in-facility drug claims
The seven-year-old who was brutally abused by the Dros Rapist has been left scarred by her contribution to the case. It’s reported that she is frequently upset, and was frightened by the dark lighting used when she gave testimony to the court. The family’s social worker revealed that the child is dealing with the trauma of the trial.
Meanwhile, Denmar Psychiatric Hospital are likely to review their protocols, after Nicholas Ninow admitted to using drugs there while he was a patient a few years back. He has been committed to several of these institutions, and despite his claims to the contrary, Ninow is remorseless when it comes to taking narcotics.
