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BABY BASHER MOM: Malinda Marshall has since had two other children and is expecting again

KILLER DAD: His son Michael died aged six. The abuse started when the baby was three months old

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The sentence was handed down in the Johannesburg Regional Court on Friday morning.

Connor and his ex-girlfriend were found guilty of assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm in November last year.

They abused their son Michael, leaving him brain-damaged, blind, and immobile. He had to be fed with a tube and was later diagnosed with cerebral palsy. He died aged six, on October 16, 2011.

The abuse started when he was three months old. The two were 18 years old when they had him.

Probation officer Yolanda Matikinca had previously told the court that Marshall said Connor could not bear the child crying and would hit him every time he did so.

Correctional services officer Themba Mjonondwane said Connor had acknowledged he violated the rights of his child and that he had contributed to the abuse by neglecting him.

He however told the court that Connor did not appear remorseful.

Initially Marshall claimed that Connor had abused the child, but she later retracted this and claimed she alone was responsible for Michael's injuries.

Their lawyers had argued that the couple were young when they had him and had since matured. They had hoped for partly suspended sentences and correctional supervision.

The pair separated and both have new partners - and other children.

• Malinda Marshall has two sons aged four and five with her husband, Diederich, and is three months pregnant with another baby.
• Bradley Connor, baby Michael’s father, married the mother of his four-year-old daughter in October 2010.
   

Comments

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Tue May 21 03:41:22 SAST 2013 ::

Jul 13, 2012

Mellow

Only 10yrs? Why are they charged with abuse cause the child died? I'll never understand our justice system struus sbob
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Jul 13, 2012

BaleliM

@ Mellow- am also disappointed. An innocent child was abused and eventually died and the culprits get 10yrs sentence.
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Jul 13, 2012

sakhomba

I would never hurt my 2 month old Naledi, her cries are a constant reminder to be grateful that she is alive and growing strong.
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Jul 13, 2012

JB$

Good riddance to bad rubbish
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Jul 13, 2012

tumzangwana

the woman is expecting again? as soon as she gives birth the baby and the other two kids have to be taken far away from this woman. jerr some people are just devils jong.
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Jul 13, 2012

RobinH

I don't belive the lienecy of this sentence. This was worse than murder. The child appears to have been regularly tortured by these evil people. They should have got life, and she should be obliged to abort and both parents should be sterilised.
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Jul 13, 2012

RobinH

Hmm. Lousy typing there, sorry. "believe" and "leniency"......
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Jul 13, 2012

Nonc3ba

Hhhmmm 10 years and that means 5 years in our country & she'll b out soon. And now she's expecting another 1, they need 2 take pelegi e yagage elatlhiwe cos she a BAD mother. The kid died for petes sake.
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Jul 13, 2012

Rosco

Mmmm,only ten years,yaa neh,the skin color played a role here.if they were darker,life wud have been the sentence
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Jul 13, 2012

Papage

Justice system at its best. I will open my big eyes for future similar cases and see what happens, our courts are not up to standard, who is the Minister on this potfolio? Jeff, what does he know?
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