Soweto mother & boyfriend to appear in court for toddler’s death
A 17-year-old mother and her 30-year-old boyfriend are expected to appear in court tomorrow in connection with the murder and rape of a 2-year-old girl in Diepkloof, Soweto.
The suspects were arrested on Tuesday and will appear in the Protea Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday.
Gauteng police spokesperson Mathapelo Peters says the child passed away while receiving treatment in hospital.
“Members of the Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences specialised unit were summoned by a medical practitioner from Baragwanath Hospital, alerting police of the rape of a two-year-old child who had been assaulted and brought in the previous night for medical attention.
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“An urgent forensic investigation was embarked on and all relevant forensic evidence collected for processing by the SAPS Forensic Science Laboratory. It was only on Tuesday that the 17-year-old mother of the victim came to report the incident to the police. Nevertheless, this assisted police in obtaining vital information towards building a solid case in order to secure arrests.”
Peters says the mother left the child in the care of her boyfriend.
“On her return, she allegedly found the boyfriend not around but instead, the boyfriend's father was home, and the child was asleep. She went to sleep not wanting to disturb the child.
“According to the complainant, she woke up in the middle of the night to check on the child only to find the child with serious injuries to her face. She took the child to nearby Baragwanath Hospital for medical attention. The outcome of the medical examination found that the child had been penetrated and that is when the doctor called the police.”
