hereby make oath and state as follows:

1. The facts deposed to in this affidavit are within my personal knowledge and are true and correct.

2. I am the daughter of the defendant, David Lurie, currently residing in Sea Point, Cape Town.

3. I have always enjoyed an excellent relationship with my father and have found him to be responsible and loving in the discharge of his duties towards me.

4. My mother passed away eight years ago, and since then my father has been a conscientious single parent.

5. On the night of 3 April two years ago I was visiting my father at his farmhouse in Worcester. We were having dinner together. At approximately 20.00, six men broke into the house. They were carrying weapons. All six men assaulted me sexually. My father appeared deeply distressed by these events but was unable to assist because the men were holding a knife to his throat.

6. At no time, did I see any signs of recognition between my father and the men. No communication of any kind passed between them.

7. When the men left, they set fire to the house. As soon as my father became aware of the fire, he helped me to escape and called the emergency services.

8. Ever since that night, my father and I have continued to enjoy an excellent relationship.

9. I am not financially dependent on my father in any way.

LUCY LURIE

I CERTIFY THAT THE DEPONENT ACKNOWLEDGED TO ME THAT SHE KNOWS AND UNDERSTANDS THE CONTENT OF THIS DECLARATION, THAT SHE HAS NO OBJECTION TO TAKING THIS PRESCRIBED OATH AND CONSIDERS IT TO BE BINDING ON HER CONSCIENCE.

THUS SIGNED AND SWORN TO BEFORE ME AT CAPE TOWN ON THIS DAY OF ___

COMMISSIONER OF OATHS

I am back at the offices of Claasen, Nkabinde & Marriot.

I am here to sign the affidavit they have drawn up on my behalf, based on the statement I gave them yesterday. I am allowed to read it before signing it.

I read over it in the manner of one scanning the terms and conditions of the user agreement for their new mobile phone. My eyes flit across the page, looking only for the place to sign. I spot the signature line and pick up my pen.

My eyes are drawn back to a word further up the page.

“Distressed,” it says.

My father was “deeply distressed” by “these events.”

I kept my eyes closed during the rapes because every time I opened them, I saw my father watching. His face was calm, perhaps even a little curious. His eyes met mine without embarrassment. This was his new favourite show and he wasn’t about to miss a minute of it.

My eyes get stuck on other words. “Responsible and loving.” “A conscientious single parent.”

Abigail Nkabinde taps the signature line. “Please sign there, Ms. Lurie.”

I grip the pen and bend over the document.

More words. “Excellent relationship.” “Holding a knife to his throat.”