#NicholasNinow We are back in the Pretoria High Court this morning where Nicholas Ninow's grandmother Pauline Gericke will continue her testimony. 
#NicholasNinow Gericke is asked if she has made any attempts to reach out to the victim's family, she says she hasn't.
#NicholasNinow Gericke: My heart goes out to the family and the child, to the mother and the father.
#NicholasNinow State: Do you know where the family of the complainant stay?
Gericke: No
State: Do you know the names of the family members.
Gericke: Only the little girl's name.
Gericke: No
State: Do you know the names of the family members.
Gericke: Only the little girl's name.
#NicholasNinow The State seeks to establish whether or not Gericke had the intention of reaching out to the family.
#NicholasNinow Gericke: I wanna tell the court that my grandson never stood a chance. Nicholas was at Denmar (Rehabilitation Centre) three times. People who go there are drugged like zombies. He never stood a chance.
#NicholasNinow Gericke adds that the first seven years of Ninow's life were hell because of his upbringing and being surrounded by drugs.
#NicholasNinow The State asks Gericke about Ninow's anger issues.
"There were reports from school that he was angry and would get into fights. He was also angry and violent towards himself."
"There were reports from school that he was angry and would get into fights. He was also angry and violent towards himself."
#NicholasNinow Gericke describes Nicholas as an 'impulsive' individual.
#NicholasNinow State: Ma'am you're trying to paint a good picture of Nicholas.
Gericke: There is another side to the #DrosRapist. My son made a horrendous mistake.
Gericke: There is another side to the #DrosRapist. My son made a horrendous mistake.
#NicholasNinow Gericke says Nicholas won't make it out, for as long as there are drugs in prison because they are right "under his nose".
#NicholasNinow Gericke has concluded her evidence. SAPS Forensic Social worker Karen Botha now takes the stand.
#NicholasNinow Botha will now detail the victim assessment report which will help the court on the impact the rape has had on the child.
#NicholasNinow Botha says she did the interview with the child in the presence of a clinical psychologist.
#NicholasNinow Botha: it was evident in her body language that she was anxious and apprehensive during the interview. She stated that she remembers the day of the rape and how she got "hurt".
#NicholasNinow Botha says the victim still experiences nightmares and remembers Ninow clearly.
"I see him in a red t-shirt, has brown hair and brown eyes."
"I see him in a red t-shirt, has brown hair and brown eyes."
#NicholasNinow Botha says the victim told her that she is scared that Ninow will come in her bedroom like he did in the bathroom.
"I'm not scared of crocodiles but I'm scared of men in the restaurant. I'm also scared of going to the bathroom in a restaurant." - Victim
"I'm not scared of crocodiles but I'm scared of men in the restaurant. I'm also scared of going to the bathroom in a restaurant." - Victim
#NicholasNinow Botha says the victim has told her that she is scared her identity will be revealed by the media. Botha adds that this has made her (victim) anxious.
#NicholasNinow Botha says the victim told her that she's scared Ninow will kill her when he comes out of prison because he threatened he'd do so, if she told anyone about the rape.
#NicholasNinow Botha says the victim is "more aware of women and child abuse" on social media.
"She poses these questions to the grandparents and they sometimes don't know how to answer."
"She poses these questions to the grandparents and they sometimes don't know how to answer."
#NicholasNinow Botha reveals that the victim wet her bed, the night before she was set to appear in court.
#NicholasNinow Botha says the victim told her she wants Ninow to stay in prison and pay for what he has done.
#NicholasNinow Botha has concluded.
#NicholasNinow Defense attorney Herman Alberts asks the judge to consider all other aspects, and not just the severity of the crime.
#NicholasNinow State Attorney Sarah Ngobeni argues that Ninow was not truthful in his evidence on the sequence of events, that the victim found him in the bathroom and not the other way around.
#NicholasNinow Ngobeni says Ninow is not remorseful but rather sorry that he must now serve time.
#NicholasNinow Ngobeni argues that the poem and letters written to the family and the victim, were an 'after thought'.
#NicholasNinow Ngobeni says Ninow's age should not be regarded as a mitigating factor but rather an aggravating factor.
#NicholasNinow Ngobeni says the court should not deviate from imposing a maximum sentence for such crimes
#NicholasNinow The EFF singing in court ahead of the proceedings.
#NicholasNinow Judge Mosopa will now deliver the sentencing. Ninow is in the dock, awaiting his fate.
#NicholasNinow Mosopa says what was a happy family outing, quickly turned into a nightmare on the day of the rape.
#NicholasNinow Mosopa says the accused raped a very young child.
"After he was caught he flushed her underwear, down the toilet."
"After he was caught he flushed her underwear, down the toilet."
[BREAKING] #NicholasNinow has been handed a life sentence for the rape of a minor at the Dros restaurant in Silverton last year.
BREAKING NEWS #NicholasNinow gets life sentence for the rape of the 7-year-old girl. He was also sentenced to 5 years for drug possession and 5 for defeating the ends of justice.
Counts one and three will run concurrently
Counts one and three will run concurrently
#NicholasNinow: Judge Mosopa handing down the judgement.
#NicholasNinow Devastation from Ninow's mother and grandmother.
#NicholasNinow ANC spokesperson Dakota Legoete says although the party welcomes the life sentence handed down, the party is unhappy that Ninow will be eligible for parole in less than 15 years.
#NicholasNinow Phindi Mjonondwane says the NPA's satisfied with this afternoon's sentence.
