On trial ... Former grand slam tennis doubles champion Bob Hewitt is on trial for rape and sexual assault of minors in the country, has pleaded not guilty. Picture: AP Photo Source: AP
FORMER Grand Slam doubles champion Bob Hewitt has pleaded not guilty to charges of rape and sexual assault of minors in a Johannesburg court.
Australian-born Hewitt, 75, is accused of raping a girl under the age of 16 in 1981, raping another girl under the age of 16 in 1982, and sexually assaulting a third girl under the age of 18 in 1994, all in South Africa.
Hewitt's lawyer Terry Price read out a statement on Monday on behalf of the tennis champion, in which he said his accusers had changed their statements a number of times during various television interviews in recent years.
A children's right activists erects a poster showing Bob Hewitt, outside a Johannesburg court, who is on trial for rape and sexual assault of minors in the country.. Picture: AP Photo Source: AP
Hewitt, whose statement said he had coached many boys and girls, said he emphatically denied raping his former students.
Wearing an olive jacket and pale yellow shirt, Hewitt was joined in the witness bench by his wife. Lawyers said the suspended hall of famer was partially deaf and needed assistance. He had brought a pillow along to support his back on the hard wooden benches.
"No matter what happens in this case I will never recover from these accusations," his statement read, comparing his case to the recent allegations against comedian Bill Cosby.
The 77-year-old comedian is facing sexual assault accusations from at least 15 women, with some of the claims dating back decades. Picture: Brennan Linsley Source: AP
Bob Hewitt compared case to the recent allegations against Bill Cosby, saying he "will never recover from these accusations". Picture: AP Photo Source: AP
The first state witness, Teresa "Twiggy" Tolken, who has agreed to be identified in the media, described to the court how Hewitt sexually assaulted her during their coaching sessions and later raped her at a resort in 1981.
She was 12 and 13 at the time of the alleged assaults.
Tolken read three letters she said Hewitt had written to her at the time of the assault.
"I want to see you. Can't of course hold or kiss you because that has to come from you," Tolken read.
She said that Hewitt had told her to destroy the letters.
Tolken, now 47, travelled from New Zealand to testify in the case. This is the second time Tolken has pursued a criminal case against the tennis star.
In his statement, Hewitt said of Tolken: "I treated her like my own daughter and became, in retrospect, too close to her."
Winding up preparation for the opening of the Davis Cup Challenge Round in 1962, the Australian tennis squad gets down to serious exercise. From left to right: John Newcombe, Roy Emerson, Rod Laver, Fred Stolle, Bob Hewitt and Ken Fletcher. Source: News Corp Australia
Hewitt won doubles and mixed doubles titles at all four Grand Slam events between 1963 and 1979 and played with greats like Billie Jean King.
Recognized as one of the greatest doubles players of all time and a winner of 15 Grand slam doubles titles, Hewitt was indefinitely suspended from the International Tennis Hall of Fame in November 2012 because of the allegations.
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