Victims of Avalon psychologist killed before facing sex charges can launch compensation action
THE victims of a former northern beaches psychologist, Pieter Jozua Rossouw, killed by a truck before facing court on a series of sex assault charges, could launch civil compensation action against his estate and business insurance policies.
Manly
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THE victims of a former northern beaches psychologist, killed by a truck before facing court on a series of sex assault charges, could launch civil compensation action against his estate and business insurance policies.
Pieter Jozua Rossouw, 62, was arrested in Brisbane last month on 13 charges of indecently and sexually assaulting two women and a 17-year-old girl more than a decade ago.
The victims were his patients at a psychology clinic in Avalon, where Rossouw specialised in treating trauma, anxiety and mood disorders.
But Rossouw was killed by a B-double truck on the Bruce Highway north of Brisbane, three days before he was to appear in Manly Local Court on February 5.
Karen Willis, an advocate for victims of sexual assault, said Rossouw, who she described as an “absolute predator” was likely to have had more victims who decided not to contact police.
Ms Willis, who runs Rape & Domestic Violence Services Australia, said his victims might now come forward to make financial claims against his estate and the Avalon practice’s professional indemnity insurance cover. The practice is now closed.
A lawyer, Adair Donaldson, who specialises in representing the victims of sexual crimes, said the women could also make claims through the State Government’s Victims of Crime compensation scheme.
Ms Willis said the practice where Rossouw worked would have had a professional indemnity insurance policy that covered legal action taken by patients for negligence.
“If they had not put proper processes in place to ensure that Rossouw wasn’t sexually assaulting anyone, then the victims would absolutely have a claim against the practice,” she said.
“When you close a practice, you have to keep your professional indemnity cover running for a number of years to cover those sort of claims.
“If his estate has money then there is potential for a civil claim against that as well.
“Overwhelmingly, in my experience, people who win compensation use that money to pay for services to assist in their recovery.”
Ms Willis said Rossouw appeared to have been treating particularly vulnerable women.
“He was setting himself up to ensure he would have one-on-one contact with highly vulnerable people who would be incredibly unlikely, because of their anxiety and stress, to make a report.”
Before his death, Rossouw lived in a large home in the prestigious Brisbane suburb of St Lucia, about 6km from the CBD. He paid $1,235,000 for the home in 2012.
Mr Donaldson said there was no statute of limitations against child survivors of historical sexual abuse bringing a claim against their abusers.
“They may have the ability to bring a claim against his estate and may be able to receive some form of compensation through the Victims of Crime legislation as well.”
The NSW Justice website said adult victims of sexual assault and domestic violence could make a claim up to 10 years from the offence. Police said the assaults took place between 2004 and 2009.
No time limit applies to victims of sexual assault who were under 18 at the time of the incident.
Compensation, under the government scheme ranges from $10,000 for sexual assault involving serious bodily injury to $1500 for indecent assault.
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