The father of a four-year-old girl who was allegedly raped, cut into pieces, and had her eyes gouged out has attacked her suspected abuser in court.

In the dramatic scene, the distraught father was seen leaping across the courtroom and into the dock to attack the accused, whose nickname is Harry Potter.

A local woman confirmed to local media that he called himself after the boy magician and was often seen walking around offering sweets or cash to children.

Prosecutors in South Africa said victim Bokgabo Poo had gone to play with a friend in a park in Wattville on 10th October when they were approached by the man.

The accused, whose real name is Ntokozo Khulekani Zikhali, allegedly gave the five-year-old boy money to buy sweets before luring Bokgabo to a hidden spot.

There, the 28-year-old suspect from Brakpan, Ekurhuleni is believed to have assaulted and killed her.

Later that day, her parents reported Bokgabo missing to police.

One of her body parts was discovered on 11th October when local woman Leah Khoza, 63, was sweeping her yard, and noticed a leg.

The remaining body parts were later found in an open field 800 metres (875 yards) away.

Police reviewed CCTV footage and saw Bokgabo walking with the suspect on the day she went missing.

Her devastated mother – a primary caregiver – has now revealed how she was able to identify her daughter’s remains, even though her eyes were missing.

Tsholofelo Poo told local media: “I saw her with the T-shirt she was wearing, her nose, her mouth, her little pretty fingers, her eye sockets, even though the eyes were not there, the hair, I could just tell that is my daughter.”

There was also drama in Benoni Magistrate’s Court on 17th October when the victim’s father Irvin Ndlovu had to be restrained by security after he tried to attack Zikhali in the dock while screaming: “This bastard killed my daughter.”

The incident caused the hearing to be adjourned.

The National Prosecuting Authority revealed on 16th October that the suspect had been out on bail at the time of the incident for allegedly raping a nine-year-old girl.

The victim’s aunt Kelebogile Mokgako told local media: “I would like for him to feel the same pain as a family and if it was up to me, the death sentence should be brought back.

“He butchered a four-year-old, he is suspected to have raped her before killing her.”

And an unnamed local woman revealed: “He is always around children, he calls himself Harry Potter. He always has money and sweets in his school bag.

“At our workplace there’s free Wi-Fi and he was always there surrounded by children, we liked him.”

Zikhali will appear in court again on 24th October for profiling and a formal bail application, according to local media.

He is accused of kidnapping, rape, murder, defeating the ends of justice, and violation of a corpse, in addition to the pending rape case.