Hewitt, the star who burnt lives

26 March 2015 - 02:07 By David Isaacson

As disappointing as yesterday's loss to the Black Caps was, just remember it is only a game. There is a lot worse that life can dish up.Ask the New Zealand-based South African who helped to bring down a former South African hero this week.Twiggy Tolken was one of three complainants who had the courage to stand up and fight decades after being sexually assaulted by one-time tennis king Bob Hewitt.Tolken, who now lives in New Zealand, and Suellen Sheehan accused Hewitt of rape in the early 1980s, while a third complainant, who did not want to be identified, alleged that he had indecently assaulted her in the 1990s.Hewitt, 75, was found guilty on the three counts on Monday.Tolken was one of the keys to this case, providing hard evidence in the form of three love letters Hewitt had written to her when she was 12.I was in court to hear Hewitt's testimony, and in my opinion he was unconvincing, especially when trying to explain those letters.They looked bad, he admitted, but really, these letters were simply aimed at lifting her up as a tennis player.His explanation sounded ludicrous.But he sounded menacing when he insisted that rape or sex with the girls was physically impossible because, had he done so, they would have landed "in hospital, I can assure you".Hewitt's wife, Delaille, was also unconvincing under cross-examination.She insisted that Hewitt could not have assaulted the third victim because she had full sight of the court - watching from the pool where she was frequently keeping an eye on her "water baby" daughter, who she said was six or seven at the time.The only problem was that her daughter, who supposedly required adult supervision in the pool, was actually in her late teens and early 20s at the time of these assaults.I thought it a pity that the prosecutor didn't ask Mrs Hewitt if she was simply mistaken about this, or if she was deliberately trying to mislead the court.In the end judge Bert Bam found it easy to convict Hewitt.So why did this wheel of justice take more than 30 years to turn full circle, especially after Tolken's family had initially tried to lay a charge in the early 1980s?Was it ineptitude or luck that Hewitt stayed free for so long? Or was he assisted by blind eyes along the way?If so, those people - if they're still alive - should hang their heads in shame because they aided a child rapist.Perhaps Hewitt was untouchable back then, despite the persistent rumours about his penchant for young girls.He was born and bred in Australia, like Rolf Harris, the singer and artist who is in an English prison for indecent assault.Hewitt switched allegiance after marrying Delaille in the 1960s, and retired with 15 Grand Slam doubles titles.He became a TV commentator with the annoying habit of breathing heavily into the microphone.I cannot begin to fathom Tolken's pain, especially after her first attempt for justice failed.Nor the pain of Sheehan, who had been unable to convince her parents.Possibly more than any sports star you can think of, these heroes deserve their victory now.Hewitt deserves to serve time...

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