According to an article by IOL Online, the Johannesburg Magistrates’ Court on 20 October found Pieterse not guilty of attempted murder.
Phindi Louw, spokesperson of the National Prosecuting Authority, said they were disappointed with the charge due to the worrying prevalence of domestic abuse in the country.
Antonio, who is still undergoing treatment at a rehabilitation centre said, “I don’t know if it will be a light sentence or not. He threatened me, he promised me that he would pour acid on my face and he did.”
Click here to read: WATCH: Acid attack victim speaks out on woman abuse
The attack took place on 4 November last year while Antonio was walking with their daughter to the shops.
IOL Online stated that Magistrate Albertus Roux found that Pieterse and Antonio had an ongoing abusive relationship and that she had turned to police to obtain protection orders against him before the attack happened.
Pieterse had allegedly walked to the boot of his car and retrieved a container with liquid, which he then threw at Antonio, burning her face, arms, neck and chest. Pieterse, however, gave a different version in court, claiming that Antonio had become aggressive and that he had reached out for something to throw at her and didn’t realise the container was filled with acid.
Roux found Pieterse guilty of assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm but cleared him of attempted murder charges. The matter has been postponed to December 7 for sentencing proceedings.
