Police interrogate family in missing toddler case

Goitsemodimo Kaelo | Thursday December 8, 2016 17:20

By 4pm yesterday, police were still locked in interviews with some family members, two days after the toddler’s body was discovered in his backyard following a massive search by sympathisers.

Yesterday morning, police maintained a heavy presence at the family’s home, with Mmegi news crew spotting six uniformed officers at the compound.

“By procedure, we have to interview all those who were present when the toddler disappeared,” a police officer close to the case said.

The child’s disappearance sparked a massive manhunt over the weekend, with faith healers and traditional doctors joining in, only for the toddler to be found deceased in his own backyard on Monday night. The discovery sparked a violent reaction from some community members, who turned their ire on the police and the toddler’s family.

Police vehicles and properties were stoned and damaged during the violence.

Two women and a man will today appear at the Broadhurst Magistrate Court charged with common nuisance in connection with the violence.

The trio, were arrested along with two others on Tuesday after violence broke out.

Yesterday afternoon at the home, burnt tyres and shattered glasses were still visible on the ground, left by angry members of the public.

Police public relations chief, Witness Bosija said originally three men and two women whose ages range between 32 and 60 years were arrested after police retrieved the toddler’s body.

Bosija said the five were among a group of people who threw projectiles and broke windscreens of police vehicles.

“We are concerned about what happened when the police were doing their job. Some people became unruly and we had to make arrests as they were interfering with the police work. We have taken the body for post mortem and investigations are continuing.”