A former school counsellor and convicted child rapist, Darren Goddard was released on bail on Wednesday pending his appeal in the Supreme Court of Appeal (SCA).

Goddard is appealing his conviction and life sentence handed by the KwaZulu Natal High Court in Pietermaritzburg in March 2023.

He was sentenced to life for his crimes against boys he counselled at a primary school from 2012 - 2016.

He was further sentenced to a collective 22 years' imprisonment for sexual assault and accessing child pornography.

His appeal in the SCA hit a snag after some court records went missing.

According to a report by The Witness, Goddard’s lawyer, advocate Shane Matthews said the case was missing 55 days of court record of the trial.

It was reported that the 55 days were, according to the State, erased from the machine when it was serviced.

The publication said Goddard's lawyer further argued that it would be impossible for their client to prepare for the reconstruction of the missing records if he was held in prison as he was not allowed a laptop or reading material and was denied phone calls to his attorney.

It was further reported that his lawyer said Goddard’s being kept in prison infringed on his Constitutional right as he was unable to continue with his SCA application with the missing records, which would be impossible to reconstruct if he was behind bars.

The court ruled in favour of Goddard to allow him an opportunity to reconstruct the records.

He was placed under house arrest until April 2025.

The matter was adjourned to April 7, 2025.

sinenhlanhla.masilela@iol.co.za

IOL News

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