Bob Hewitt, Ex-Tennis Champion, Guilty Of Rape In South Africa

Ex-Tennis Champion Found Guilty Of Rape
PALM RIDGE, SOUTH AFRICA - FEBRUARY 10: (SOUTH AFRICA OUT) Australian-born former tennis champion Bob Hewitt appears in the Johannesburg High Court, sitting in Palm Ridge on February 10, 2015 in Palm Ridge, South Africa. Hewitt has been appeared in court yesterday following allegations that he sexually abused three girls he coached in 1981 and 1982 respectively. One of Hewitt's alleged victims testified in court yesterday, on how he allegedly abused her on a tennis training trip to Sun City. (Photo by Mary-Ann Palmer/Foto24/Gallo Images/Getty Images)
PALM RIDGE, SOUTH AFRICA - FEBRUARY 10: (SOUTH AFRICA OUT) Australian-born former tennis champion Bob Hewitt appears in the Johannesburg High Court, sitting in Palm Ridge on February 10, 2015 in Palm Ridge, South Africa. Hewitt has been appeared in court yesterday following allegations that he sexually abused three girls he coached in 1981 and 1982 respectively. One of Hewitt's alleged victims testified in court yesterday, on how he allegedly abused her on a tennis training trip to Sun City. (Photo by Mary-Ann Palmer/Foto24/Gallo Images/Getty Images)

(Adds detail)

JOHANNESBURG, March 23 (Reuters) - Former Grand Slam doubles tennis champion Bob Hewitt was found guilty by a South African court on Monday of two charges of rape and one charge of sexual assault of minors, the radio station Eyewitness News said.

The Australian-born Hewitt, 75, had been charged with assaulting three under-age girls during his time coaching children in South Africa in the 1980s and 1990s.

Hewitt won nine Grand Slam doubles and six Grand Slam mixed doubles titles in the 1960s and 1970s.

He also reached the semi-finals of the men's singles at the Australian Open three times, and won the Davis Cup with South Africa in 1974 after settling there.

The prosecution and defense both presented closing arguments at the South Gauteng High Court in Johannesburg on Monday. Hewitt had pleaded not guilty to all charges.

His doctor said last year that Hewitt remained ill after suffering a stroke in 2010 and a heart attack in 2011. (Reporting by Zandi Shabalala; Editing by James Macharia and Kevin Liffey)

Popular in the Community

Close

What's Hot