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Baby's abuse nightmare |
| An EIGHT-month-old boy's anguish was hidden in the wild mess of dishes, electric cables, filthy cat litter and soiled nappies. There were rumours among friends, but it took a brave babysitter - who was asked to look after the boy - to rescue him by taking him to hospital and opening a police case against his parents. What the doctor at Olivedale Clinic discovered was shocking: more than 10 fractures, including broken ribs and twist fractures on both elbows, a wrist and an ankle. There was also what appeared to be cigarette burns on the feet, and red wounds on his cheek and forehead. These breaks and bruises, the doctor ruled, pointed to abuse, or "non-accidental injury" as the police were told. This happened on October 17. The same day, four police officers from the Randburg police station arrived at the couple's home in Paulshof, Sandton, and made an arrest. The mother, an unemployed 22-year-old, is the biological parent, while her new husband, a 32-year-old salesman, is not. The Star cannot name the parents in order to protect the baby. Investigating officers call the boy "Baby Z". The house where the couple were arrested resembled "a pigsty", a police source said. It smelt of cat urine and stale dagga. There was a "hotbox tent" (camping tent) allegedly used to smoke the dagga in. A snake that lived in a glass fishbowl had shed its skin and the old, flaky scales lay abandoned on the floor. Appliance cables lay like piles of spaghetti in almost every corner. The kitchen counter was buried under mounds of dirty dishes and half-eaten meals. Used nappies were scattered near the baby cot, and it seemed like every available surface in the house had been used to dump something. Police officers seized dagga at the house and took the couple into custody. After making a court appearance in November and being granted bail, the couple returned to the Randburg Magistrate's Court on Friday and had their case postponed to this week in order for it to be taken to a higher, regional court. Detective Captain Colin Morris, head of the Randburg Child Protection and Sexual Offences Investigation Unit, was in court to oversee the appearance. He declined to comment, saying it was too early in the proceedings. The unit, which recently caught and extradited international fugitive paedophile Stephen Wooding, is handling the case. It's believed the couple will be charged with assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm. Their bail was not opposed as they surrendered their passports and were not seen to be a flight risk. They are yet to plead to the charge and have so far maintained their innocence. After being examined by doctors, Baby Z was taken to a place of safety. A source close to the investigation said he was doing much better. "Before, if any man came close he started crying. And when anyone picked him up, he cried because he had a number of broken ribs," the source said. "But now he's a completely different child." The case is due to resume on Wednesday. By Alex Eliseev The Star 08/02/10e2 Click here to respond to this article - Your responses will get vetted and printed on "Have your Say" |
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