Former star denies sex attacks on teen singer

A former South African singing star now living in New Zealand has pleaded not guilty in the High Court at Pretoria to sexually molesting child singer Robbie Klay in their home country.

Jurie Els, who bought a house in Auckland in 2001, denies two charges of indecently assaulting Klay when he was between 11 and 16 and soliciting Klay to commit indecent acts.

State prosecutors alleged Els sexually molested and sodomised Klay for years at various places in the country.

Acting Judge Chris Eksteen rejected the prosecution's application for Klay to testify behind closed doors about the events that led to his tell-all tale in the media and the eventual criminal charges against Els.

Els' lawyer, Danie Dorfling, opposed the application, saying the right to a fair trial included the right to a public trial and the state had not presented any evidence why the court should grant such an unusual request.

"The complainant in this case exercised his discretion to tell his story to the whole world and to involve both the printed and electronic media," Mr Dorfling contended.

Els and his wife, former Olympic high jumper Hestrie Cloete, returned to Pretoria a week ago from New Zealand for the high-profile trial. The trial continues.

- NZPA