Christmas in jail for mother of murdered 'Baby Daniel'

21 December 2018 - 13:57
By Ernest Mabuza
Image: 123RF/Artit Oubkaew "Baby Daniel's" mother will remain in custody until her bail application is heard in January 2019. On Thursday, December 20 2018, she was found guilty of child neglect and her boyfriend of murder, after the gruesome death of the three-year-old.

The mother of three-year-old "Baby Daniel", who was murdered in 2016 after a spate of injuries sustained during his short life, will spend Christmas behind bars.

The woman, who cannot be named to protect the identities of her other children, will appear in court again on January 3 2019.

The mother, aged 29, was found guilty on Thursday December 20 2019 on two counts of child neglect, while her boyfriend was convicted of murder. Their sentencing proceedings are expected to start in the South Gauteng High Court on January 21.

The high court rejected the explanations given by the couple on how the child sustained the injuries he had at the time of his death. These included head and chest injuries, and bruising on his arms. He had also been submerged in a bathtub of hot water.

The court heard that so severe were the injuries that any one of them could have been the cause of death.

On Thursday, acting Judge Collin Matshitse found that the mother had caused the boy's death by not doing anything about the abuse he had suffered at the hands of her boyfriend.

The woman spent the night in prison following her conviction and was due to apply for her bail to be extended on Friday.

However, her new advocate, Ruan Hollamby, on Friday asked for a postponement so he could consult with his client.

Hollamby said he and the prosecution had agreed that January 3 2019 was a suitable date for her bail application. Matshitse agreed.