Deny, deny, deny: Alleged rapist dad refutes allegations

A 36-year-old medical doctor accused of raping his seven-year-old son has disputed the accuracy of his own affidavit, in which he stated that his experiences of childhood sexual abuse predisposed him to becoming a sexual predator, although it was not a determining factor.

The doctor, who said he grew up in a very abusive household where his parents frequently fought, was also allegedly molested by a nephew.

When State prosecutor Bernadine Bertollini questioned him about these claims, he admitted that the information in the affidavit was provided by him but was inaccurate.

“I am not a sexual predator,” he said.

In the same affidavit, the doctor said he has experimented sexually with both men and women.

The doctor and his 58-year-old mother stand accused of having molested and raped his son on numerous occasions.

Physical observations

The boy’s grandmother said she had told the child’s mother that chronic anal fissures on the victim might have been caused by constipation.

However, during Friday’s court proceedings, where the pair is applying for bail, medical reports were presented to the court, ruling out constipation as a cause.

An affidavit submitted by the family's nanny, which was read out in court, also stated that the child fell ill in 2020 after he developed rashes and had a ‘torn anus’.

Accusations against ex

The doctor admitted to submitting an affidavit to the head of the police gender-based violence unit, in which he claimed that his ex-wife – the boy’s mother – suffered from severe psychiatric disorders. He argued that, despite lacking qualifications in psychology or psychiatry, as a medical doctor, he was permitted to make such diagnoses.

The claims against his former spouse included hallucinations and severe delusions.

Asked why he felt prompted to submit this affidavit without any provocation or request, the accused rapist – who has also been accused of sexually experimenting with animals – said he wanted to protect his son.

“He went through so many anal exams. I wanted it to stop. I was in such disbelief that my ex-wife did not even apologise to the child. I was afraid that he would develop rectal incontinence, which is a condition when you cannot hold your stool,” he told the court.

He dismissed the medical report from renowned psychiatrist Dr Gerhard Marx, who said he observed no mental disorders in the ex-wife.

“How could he? He did not fully evaluate her,” the accused said, while insisting that his own psychiatric evaluation of his ex-wife is accurate.

The matter has been postponed to Tuesday for the continuation of the bail hearing.

The adults involved in the case cannot be named in order to protect the identity of the child.

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