The clinical psychological evaluation of Claude Marais was heard in the Roodepoort Magistrate’s Court on Monday, 18 June.
According to clinical psychologist, Dr Lorinda Brink Bergh, she first saw Marais on 15 January this year, but she also conducted interviews with Marais’ parents and his wife on 10 and 17 January respectively.
Brink Bergh’s report included Marais’ formative years. She said he was born in Johannesburg and grew up on the West Rand where he reached all his milestones as a child. Marais has a good relationship with his mother and his brother. His father owns an IT business where he is currently working. He indicated that he wants to open a training centre. He attended Laerskool Helderkruin and Hoërskool Roodepoort and never repeated a year. He was also captain of the cricket team. Although he did not know what he wanted to do after school, he studied law for a year. He had many friends in school and he and his wife, Minette have an active social live. Marais said he did not have many girlfriends.
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He met his wife in 2006. They dated for two years before they got engaged. After a year’s engagement they got married in 2010. Minette said he is a hands-on father to their two children. Marais said his wife had a troublesome childhood because her family did not talk about their problems. Minette currently holds a teaching position at a pre-primary school.
The detailed psychological report on Marais stated that he had regular monogamous sex with his wife. In it, it was reflected that he denied watching pornography and masturbating in private.
Although he dabbled in drugs when he was in high school, he only use alcohol on social occasions. Marais is currently an atheist because he is not convinced there is a God.
Marais said he did not know why he was arrested on 9 April 2013 or why he was remanded in custody for three days. He felt very embarrassed for his family after his photograph was published in the Roodepoort Record. Marais also said his previous attorney, Wynand du Plessis, told him to keep evidence of his whereabouts to himself because, according to the report, the magistrate could manipulate the evidence.
The report indicated that he is in control at all times, that he has an IQ of 160, his working memory is 150 but he has a processing score of 87 which means that he takes in information relatively slowly. Marais is a dependent individual and willingly submits to the wishes of others and assumes a passive role in relationships. He would also volunteer to do things that are unpleasant and gave no indication of narcissistic or anti-social behaviour, but he is preoccupied with feelings of discouragement. He also has an elevated post traumatic stress score, which may be related to his incarceration. He is currently very depressed.
Marais indicated that he is warmly involved and interested in people and has the ability to solve problems. Other characteristic traits include enthusiasm, being an attention-seeker and having difficulty with conforming to strict rules. He also shows little fear in respect of social situations. He is genuine and forthright, which is not always to his advantage. He is not self-reliant but finds it difficult to ask for help when necessary.
Brink Bergh said Marais is severely depressed, anxious and uncertain of himself. He seeks guidance from others and distances himself from close, interpersonal and emotional relationships. He also distances himself when he is confronted with anger and depression.
He described his wife as the perfect woman and his mother as a pillar of hope and kindness. In his sentence completion test, Brink Bergh quoted Marais saying, “I wish I could get rid of the fear to go to jail because the fear causes me to lie awake at night. My sex life is awesome and my worst mistake was quitting my studies. When I look at my children I know I need to fight like a lion. I am tired but I am not without hope. I am disappointed at some of my choices, but I will come through this when the truth comes out. It is creating a lot of financial difficulties for my family. Eventually I will look back and laugh at all this.”
Marais admitted to watching pornography with his wife once or twice, but never watched child pornography.
Marais’ reality testimony, according to Brink Bergh, is good, as he perceives the world as others do. He poses no danger to children and has normal sexual desires with women of his own age.
Brink Bergh concluded by saying he does not fit the profile of a sexual predator.
The case will continue on 22 August and possibly 24 August, with 31 August set aside for judgment.
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