Girl (6) stopped breathing after 19 stab wounds

Stepmother violent by nature, says policeman

The six-year-old who was stabbed 19 times allegedly by her stepmother had stopped breathing shortly after the incident‚ the Randburg Magistrate’s Court has heard.

A 25-year-old woman from Diepsloot‚ who cannot be named in order to protect the identity of the child‚ is facing charges of attempted murder and malicious damage to property.

She is alleged to have stabbed the child in full view of police on March 24.

During her bail application‚ investigating officer Sergeant Abraham Tiphe said yesterday that police had gone to the woman’s house after her boyfriend had laid a charge of malicious damage to property against her. Tiphe said when police rescued the child‚ she was so severely injured that they had to take her to hospital.

“As police officers‚ we are not allowed to take victims to hospitals‚ but under the circumstances‚ we had to rush the child to hospital because she looked like she had stopped breathing,” he said.

Tiphe told the court that the woman was violent by nature and that neighbours told him she had previously assaulted the child.

“A tenant in the yard where the accused lives told me that she had assaulted the victim before. She apparently blamed the sixyear-old for problems in her relationship with the father‚” he said.

Tiphe asked the court to deny the woman bail. “As a police officer‚ I am disturbed by her actions. She stabbed the child in full view of police. She has no regard for the law. I strongly oppose bail.”

The woman’s lawyer‚ Japi Malatji‚ however‚ pleaded for her release‚ arguing that the accused is a mother to four children.

“She is a student and has a bright future ahead of her. There is no evidence to suggest the community is angry with her and that her life is in danger.”

He conceded that the woman had committed a serious offence that can attract a 10-year sentence‚ but asked the court to grant her bail so she could write her exams.

The bail application continues.