Woman in court for infanticide

LERATO MALEKE
Correspondent | Monday June 24, 2013 00:00

Assistant Superintendent Boipuso Baatweng of Sikwane Police Station says the suspect burned the child in a 20 litre bucket on June 10th before throwing the body in a neighbour's abandoned toilet.Realising that the baby had been missing for two days, the accused's mother reported her to the police. Baatweng said when her mother asked where the child was, the accused said she gave her to someone across the border.  Mathubudukwane, in the Kgatleng district, is a river village seven kilometres from Deerdeport border post, South Africa.

The mother's suspicions were also sparked by the fact that the accused could not explain why the baby's clothes and other things remained in the house. Baatweng said after two days of questioning, the accused revealed that she had killed the child. She said she suffocated her, then tried to burn her in a 20 litre bucket using pampers, but that did not work. She then  threw her in a nearby toilet.

'Fortunately, it was easy for us to find the baby, since the toilet was not in use,' said Baatweng. He said although the baby was burnt, one could still see that it was a human being.  He said the body was later taken for forensic examinations, and the family officially buried it last weekend.

Baatweng said the accused has already appeared in court and investigations are continuing. He said the accused said the baby was a burden to her.The father of the deceased was reportedly at the cattle-post at the time of the incident.

Baatweng said the maximum sentence for the offence is the death penalty. He appealed to the public, especially women, to consult the police or social workers whenever they have problems.Meanwhile, an 18-year old Molefi Senior Secondary School student, who allegedly murdered a 24-year old man of Boseja ward in Mochudi at Masakeng Bar, has also appeared in court.

The suspect is awaiting finalisation of his bail application. Police in Mochudi suspect that the student wanted to rob the deceased because he allegedly stabbed his victim with a sharp instrument from behind.