Net was closing on rape-accused advocate

It appears there was mounting pressure on well-known senior Advocate Paul Kennedy, who was accused of raping a minor, sexual assault and possession of child pornography, in the months before his death. Kennedy, who was due to stand trial this week, had also been reported to the Legal Practice Council (LPC). And Johannesburg Society of Advocates chairperson Christiaan van der Merwe SC said Kennedy resigned from the Bar last year after the charges were instituted. The LPC reportedly confirmed to News24 that it had received a complaint in January, stemming from the charges Kennedy was facing. However, it had not yet started its investigation as no information, evidence or supporting documents were provided with the complaint. Following Kennedy's suicide on Monday, the LPC said it would await the finalisation of the criminal case before closing its file. His death came a week before he was due to appear in the Gauteng High Court (Johannesburg) and three weeks after he and his co-accused in the child sex trafficking case were ordered to be tested for HIV. This after one of the victims tested positive for HIV.

Women & Men Against Child Abuse (WMACA) said it hoped the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) would ensure that children allegedly sexually abused by the suspects would get justice. TimesLIVE reports that they faced 735 counts that include sexual grooming of children, human trafficking, procuring child pornography, sexual assault, sexual exploitation of children and rape. The NPA has declined to comment until a copy of Kennedy’s death certificate is presented in court. WMACA spokesperson Ngaa Murombedzi said Kennedy’s co-accused was also facing sexual assault charges at the Wynberg Magistrate’s Court. The case has been postponed 18 times while the accused has remained out on bail. Murombedzi said of the 735 charges, the latter faced at least 600 of them. ‘We are hoping that regardless of fact that (Kennedy) is deceased, the state is left with a responsibility that these children get justice and to consolidate all the cases where (Kennedy’s co-accused) is involved.’