The trial of Darren Goddard (32), the former school guidance counsellor who faces charges of sexual assault and the rape of boys, resumed yesterday as with a claim that his trial was “selective”.
Standing before Judge Kate Pillay at the Pietermaritzburg High Court, Goddard argued that he is not and cannot receive a fair trial.
Facing counts of accessing child pornography, being in possession of child pornography, sexual assault and rape, all taking place within the space of four years from 2012 to 2016, Goddard has pleaded not guilty to all charges.
Goddard explained to state advocate Attie Truter that the nature of the investigative process against him was unfair and biased.
“It was irregular in many ways,” said Goddard.
Judge Pillay then asked him to specify in a summary of which Goddard started by stating that the investigating officer had handled his case improperly.
“The officer approached parents of the alleged victims with highly exaggerated stories and they were even influenced when they did not lay a charge,” said Goddard.
Goddard added that, to his knowledge, certain statements made by teachers and psychologists reports were not contained in the police docket and went as far as saying that police fabricated a statement, saying that it was not done by the psychologist that he had met with.
When asked what justification he could make over this statement, Goddard was at his wits ends to explain why police used words usually associated with psychologists in the statement.
Advocate Truter argued against Goddard’s statements, saying that the language used on the statement was not that of a normal police officer.
Goddard added that his rights were infringed upon when documents from his psychologist’s office were taken by police, stating that they were meant only for him and his attorney.
Truter responded by stating that the law allowed the state to compel a witness to testify and that his psychologist could become a witness for the state.