The Ripper Rapists

On June 10, 1995, du Toit underwent his "exorcism." Sgt. James Lottering, of the Occult-Related Crimes Unit in the Eastern Cape, contacted Pastor Arthur Frost, of the Word of Faith Christian Centre, to conduct the proceedings. In all, seven people besides du Toit attended, and the event was even videotaped. Sgt. Lottering testified that a demon did in fact manifest during the exorcism, and five people had to push du Toit down on the chair. Du Toit became "wild and aggressive," according to Die Burger (Oos-Kaap) of June 22, 1995, and he cursed and swore. Chaplain Jacobus Kruger, who also attended, testified that du Toit was unable to say the word "Christ".

Pastor Frost testified that du Toit was indeed possessed, that a demon spoke during the proceedings, and that it was successfully exorcised. He also testified that the possessed person can still deny a demon's suggestions or orders. If the demon takes control of the possessed person, which he stated is possible, the person will feel as if he or she is in a trance and will not have a clear memory of that period of time. Du Toit had on numerous occasions recounted the details of Alison's attack as if he were watching it unfolding before his eyes.

Col. Kobus Jonker, national head of the Occult-Related Crimes Unit, had serious doubts about the authenticity of demonic involvement in the attack on Alison. In addition to reiterating Pastor Frost's contentions that the possessed person retains freedom of choice and that complete demonic control will result in memory loss, Col. Jonker was also troubled by the premeditated and planned nature of the rapes. He claimed that demons are not picky entities—neither physical attractiveness nor relational qualities such as marriage are of much consequence to them. In other words, from Col. Jonker's point of view, du Toit's demon would probably have had violent sex with his wife as well — du Toit testified that he was lying next to his wife when the demon told him to rape the second victim — and would not have requested "a pretty woman" to rape and kill, as du Toit had testified regarding Alison's attack. Col. Jonker believed that the truly possessed are consumed by guilt and remorse after they have been freed, neither of which seemed particularly evident in du Toit.

Some interesting information came to light during a conversation between a close friend of the pregnant victim and Die Burger. In a weird coincidence, the friend's husband knew du Toit and he actually spent some time at their house, although he never met the victim there. Apparently, du Toit listened to recordings made by a family member of these friends who used to be heavily involved in Satanism. It was in this manner the friend claimed that du Toit learned about demons and incubi. She went on to say that he was even afraid of the dark and had asked her husband on one occasion to walk home with him.

In the final analysis, alleged demonic possession doesn't really matter anyway. It is just one more way to deny responsibility for one's actions. It's not my fault — she was wearing sexy clothing. It's not my fault — her bedroom window was wide open. It's not my fault — the gun just went off. It's not my fault — I was high on drugs. It's not my fault — the devil made me do it.